Ordering Info: Visa, MasterCard or COD. No personal Checks
No surcharge for credit cards. COD add $4.00. Ohio add 5.5% tax.
No cash refunds - Return products for Credit or Replacement only.
Shipping Info: Free shipping on Orders over $100, in the
continental USA. APO & FPO actual freight.We ship UPS.
International: Actual freight.
P.O.Box 811- Elvria,Ohio44036
800 - 535-4290
Tech Info & Fax 216-926-3842
-V 9AM- 9PM EST CALI, for catalog
1040 STe-$399
Mega STe 1- $659
mega special - $995
2ni«gfti50IID/l>tM Floppy
ST Book & Falcon- !!CALL!!
F STe SIMMS Imeg each - $40
I SM147 14”-$199
I SC1224-$200
SC1435 14” color-$349
Atari 1.4Meg floppy kit - $139 ]
ihtmoru llflcradffi ^^ fflisc hardtoarc ^^B iUisc Itiardvuarc
Z-Raiti - 2.5 or 4 megs - $85
with chiiM 15M- $157 ASf- $229
Z-Rain/2.5- 520 ST- $75
wUh dti|M 2.5M- $147
i^Ram/Mega II- 4Mc£s - $75
with rhl|ja 2.5M- $147
1 Meg Chips $4.50 ea
Simms - $40ea
JRl Board (uses simms)- $99
Xtra RAM ST Deluxe- $79
(uses simms)
f loppu Wnm
Mitster
Master 5S (5.25”) - $199
li
Supra 2400 baud - 5^94
Supra 2400 Plus- $149
Zoom 2400-$74
Zoom2400V.42bis- $146
Zoom AFX 2400- $89
V^7400b<l iiiodcfii wl9600bd wndrnx 4800 reedve
Zoom FX9624 - $127
2400 bd modetn w/9600ariKl / iwhre fax
■ Straight Fax-$59.95
iii (required software for all IMed Pax niodema)
I ^pra 9600 v32 w/Fax- $269
ii Supra 9600 v32hLs w/pax- $349
( ZOOM 9600 V32 -$285
9600 .Moelcin w/V42bb A Pax
; ZOOM 14400 V32-$309
l\ 14400 Modem w/V^b * Pax
TuaJitum 52Meg IVMs -$
[ Quantum 105Meg 17Ms -$369 |
f Quantum 170Meg 17Ms -$559 |
{ Quantum 240Meg 17Ms -$699 <
Maxtor 65Meg - $269
Maxtor 85Meg- $329
[ Maxtor 120Meg 15msec- $399
Fujitsu 330Meg-$1156
Fiyitsu 425Meg- $1219
Fujitsu 520Meg- $128
SyQuest 44M removable-$349
carts-$77
i SyQuest 88M removable-$469
carts-$125
AdSpeed- $239
Adspeed STFE- $249
Autoswitch Overscan- $109
Blitz cable w/software - $46.95
D.F.K.A interface- $95
Drive Master - $32
Drive cable 6 ft $13.95
DVT-VCR hd backup- $69.95
Flashdrive I ID caseiporifoMo)- $139
Hand Scanner Migrapii- $269
Hand Scanner Golden uiu«e $215
HP Deslget 500 printer - $469
ICD Adscsi Plus - $93.77
ICD Adscsi (no clock) - $83.77
ICD Adscsi Micro (Mega*8) - $77
50pin SCSI dual drive cable - $10
ICD Cleanup ST - $25
Lantech LAN- $299
Mega Touch Springs - $9.49.
Monitor Master - $32
Monitor Stand w/5 outlets- $46
Mouse Master - $26
Mouse mats - $5
Mouse (Opto-Mechanical) - $37
Mouse (O|)(0<Mccli. w/Deluxe paiu!)- $45
Mouse (Optical)- $53.95
Mouse (Cordless)- $80
Mousestick (Gravis)- $65
IB Multi Sync Swiichbox- $53.95
Panasonic KPX-1124i -$319.95
Panasonic KPX-1123 -$234.95
AT Speed C16 (iiRvraz)- $369
Speed Bridge (Mega) - $65
Spectre GCR(cart)- $215
Printer or Modem CaNe • $7
Star NXIOOI -$155
Star NX-2420 - $249
ST/time (under rom clock) - $43 t
Supercharger W/1 Meg - $289 g
Synchro 11 - $59 |
TEC (Tos extension card)- $135 |
TEC Mega bus- $155 i
TOS 2.06 - $70
TC Power (for IBM amUstor*) - $39.95
Trackbidl(Kran)- $59
Trackball(cordless)- $88
Turbo 20- $299
I Turbo 25- $359
I Tweety Board - $30.95
r Vidi ST-$124.95
i Vidi-Chrome ST - $34.95
: Vidi RGB - $109.95
i Vidi Color Kit - $259.95
Z-KeyS (mt IB.M krybosrd) - $59.95
II
'Icttj 3oftttiarc
Bonanza Bros, - $39.95
Cool Croc Twins - $41.95
D/Geueration- $29.95
Lure of the Temptress- $48.95
H(M)k- $46.95
G-Man 3.0- $39.95
Utopia the New Worlds- $36.95
Complete assembled unit, using ICD ADSCSI Plus / ICD ADSCSI or Supra host(w/clock) and
, software, hard drive, SCSI cable, and fan! Ready to plug in and use.. Ail units have a one year
warranty. (Syquest & Quantum drives 2 years). All available for 220V 50HZ.
Case A: our budget Case $69
Case B: our shoebox Case $89
3.5"H X 15"W X IS-L
Case C: our deluxe Case $119.95
HD Size
Case A
CaseB
CaseC
SOMegs
$362
$382
$412
52Megs
$442
$462
$492
65Megs
$432
$452
$482
85Megs
$492
$512
$542
lOSMegs
$532
$552
$582
120Megs
$562
$582
$612
ITOMegs
$722
$742
$772
210Megs
$803
$823
$853
330Megs
$1319
$1339
$1369
425Megs
$1382
$1402
$1432
520Megs
$1452
$1472
$1502
44 Syquest $579
N/A
$609
88 Syquest $729
N/A
$755
3.5” floppy in second opening- $90
rnthmi . . .
AtariFest '92
October • 10 & 11 • 1992
Sheraton-Reston Hotel
11810 Sunrise Valley Dr. Reston, VA 22091
ftHti & mac ei
art g
& fftf s ri
-Jr ^
- lO'fejft
r>1|| f'
Show hours are 10am until 5pm both days
Admission;
$5.00 for one day, or $8.00 for both days
For general information, contact Ken Fassler or Betty Burchell at WAACE DTACK, 301-229-1886.
You may also address any query to Charles Hoffmann, WAACE President, at 5908 Bayshire
Road, Springfield, VA 22152-1146, or via telecommunications on GEnie: S. HOFFMANN,
CIS: 73740,1507, or Delphi: CHUCKHOFFMAN.
Telephone for hotel reservations: 1-800-392-ROOM
Hotel rates are $59 per night, single or double occupancy, and $66 triple or quad. These rates are valid from October 8
through 11. In order to obtain these special rates, you must mention AtariFest *92.
AtariFest *92 is presented by the Washington Area Atari Computer Enthusiasts
(■urreat Notes (ISSN 8750-1937) is pub¬
lished monthly (excluding January and Au¬
gust by Current Notes Inc. 122 N. Johnson
Rd, Sterling VA 20164 (703) 450-4761. Di¬
rect subscriptions in the U.S. to Current
Notes are available for $27/year (see below).
Second Class postage paid at Sterling, VA
and other offices. ___
POSTMASrrKR: Send address changes to
Current Notes, Inc., 122 N Johnson Rd, Ster-
ling, VA 20164. _
Opinions expressed in this publication are
those of the individual authors and do not
necessarily represent or reflect the opinions
of Current Notes. Current Notes is not affil¬
iated in any way with Atari Corp.
PUBLISHER: Joe Waters, 122 N Johnson
Rd, Sterling VA 20164 (703) 450-4761.
GENIE: JOE.WATERS
ST EDITOR; Frank Sommers, 4624 Lang-
drum Ln, Chevy Chase MD 20815 (301)
656- 0719.
8-BII EDITOR; Rick Reaser, 4625 Whimsi
cal Di; Colorado Springs, CO 80917-3120
(719) 380-8081 GENIE: R.REASERJR1
CompuServe: 72130,2073.
c:OPY EDITOR; Joyce Waters
CN\ ANSWERMAN: Dave Th)y, 410-
544-6943. Write c/o Toad Computers, 570F
Ritchie Hwy, Severna Park, MD 21146.
GENIE: Toad-Serv.
( N COLUMNISTS: John Barnes, Richard
Gunter, Mike Heininger, Brian Millei; Rick
Reaser, Dave Small, Frank Sommers, David
Troy, Sam Wright, Andrzej Wrotniak.
Articles or review material and press releas¬
es should be sent directly to the appropriate
editor. Deadline date for articles is the 1st of
the month.
SURSf RIPTlONS: $27 per year (S44/2
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Send check, payable to Current Notes, to
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AHVERTISING MANAGER; Joyce Waters,
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page, $43-$57. Call for details.
RACK I.SSUF^S: 1987/88 ($1.50 ea), 1989,
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CURRBHT NOTES
Table of Contents
September 1992
PliiiiiiiiilBTicLEs
8 Atari Falcon 030 - by Sam Tramiel
Atari President Sam Tramiel announces the new Atari Falcon
030 at GEnie Atari ST Roundtable Conference. Here arc
highlights.
26 GEMULATOR - by Milt Creighton
A preview peek at the Atari ST Emulator for use with MS*DOS
and Windows on PC platforms.
32 Findex V - by Don Elmore
Simple and easy data and text storage and retrieval system.
36 Making Fountains with Outline Art - by David Harkin
It’s simply amazing what your software and computer can do;
if only you know how! Here are some tricks for spectacular art
work.
48 ProBid - by Paul Summit!
A SynCalc template for a video and film production planner.
54 The Ultra Speed Plus OS - by Charles A. Cole
The operating system Atari should have installed.
56 TOS and DOS - by Michael Wolf
Co-existence on one monitor, at last.
58 Deutcros - by James Parker
As the commander of Earth City, capture the world!
60 Gods - by Alfred Giovetti
Action with a touch of intellectual challenge.
62 Pacific Islands - by Mike Heininger
How come all games aren’t like this?
64 Legend - by Fred Perdval
Too much of a bland thing.
66 Fore! Golf Simulations - by Mike Heinin^r
It all started with Leader Board.
68 Multiplay - by Bill Moes
Math exporation, discovery, and practice, for children 5-11.
Page 2
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
VOmt a NO. ISBFTBMBER1992
Editorial, by Joe Waters 4
Letters to the Editor 6
Show Announcements 3
AtariFcst ’92 7
Atari Classics on the Way 35
8-Bit Tidbits, by Richard Reaser 42
Connecting Your Classic
Junkyard Pussycat, by John Barnes 26
Cultural Impoverishment
Myths and Mysteries, by Dave Troy 22
Moving Toad, Making Tadpoles
Small World, by Dave Small 70
Coin’ to School
ST Toolbox, by J. Andrzej Wrotniak 18
Otto’s RCS, High Speed Pascal
ST Update, by Frank Sommers n/a
(Still on vacation.)
Starting Block, by Richard Gunter 30
Fragments and Dungeons
1
tP in a
If moviflig,
MicDAd class tJS mail the post ofl 8 eo does ooi
fisHrvraod second claw jjuldicidlonsi tlwjf thiw
The cover: This spectacular bcc, produced with
Spectrum, is one of the fine pictures our current genera¬
tion of Atari ST/Mega computers can generate and show.
We are all now anxiously awaiting the pictures the new
Atari Falcon 030 will display. Photo by Mike Heiningcr,
(c) 1992.
247^4^ STtfOTV AWtOVTKeSMS^HnS
August 23-24: Dusseldorf Atari show.
\jOok for Alari to unveil the Falcon at this huge Atari show
in Germany. Third party vendors are also expected to
unveil a number of new Atari-related products. CN will
provide full details in our October issue.
September 12-13: The Qlendale Show
Southern California's Atari Faire has had the largest
annual attendance of any continuing show series. Version
6.0 of this show will be held at the Glendale College
Auditorium as in past years. For more information about
the Glendale Show, contact John King Tarpinian at
818-246-7286 or leave Email on GRnie to
JOHN.KING.T.
September 19-20: Montreal AtarlFest
Festival Atari de Montreal et Environs — FAME - will be
holding an Atarifest from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. The
event will be held at the Monkland Centre, N.D.G., 4410
W. Hilla Avenue in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
September 23: Falcon Intro to US
Atari will unveil its new Falcon 030 at the meeting of the
Boston Computer Society scheduled for September 23 at
7:30 pm in the New England \a(c Hall in the Copley
Square Building, 225 Clarendon St., Boston, MA.
October 10 -11: The WAACE Atarifest ’ 92
The lai^est east coast Atarifest will be held, once more, at
the Sheraton-Reston Hotel, 11810 Sunrise Valley Dr,
Reston VA 22091 from 10am — 6pm Saturday and Sunday.
For more information contact Charles Hoffmann at
703-629-6734.
October 24: Atari Safari ’92
The Houston Atari Computer Enthusiasts arc sponsoring
their third annual .computer show, the largest show in
Texas and surrounding States. Call Harold Galley (713)
988 -4772 for more information.
November 16 - 20: Fail COMDEX
The biggest computer trade show in the USA is held, once
more, in I^s Vegas, Nevada.
December 12-13: No. CA Atari Expo
The Northern California Atari Expo will be held at the
San Jose Exhibit Hall, 145 W. San Carlos, San Jose, CA.
For more info, call (510) 352—8118 or send Email on
GEnie to M.WARNER8.
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 3
by Joe Waters
Anyone familiar with computer technology is aware that
this is an area where we have seem dramatic, and continuing,
changes. But, I suggest, wc arc now entering a period where
there is going to be an even more dramatic shift in what is
considered “mainstream” personal computing.
In the Intel world, we have watched the first 8088—
based computers move to the 8086, the 80286, the 80386, and
now the 80486. IBM followers will remember the PC, the
XT, the AT, and the PS/2 series of computers. They may not
want to remember the 3270 PC, the PC Jr., and the IBM PC
portable. Apple advocates have seen the Apple, Apple II, Ap¬
ple in, Lisa, Mac, Mac Plus, Mac SE, a whole host of Mac
II nx)dcls, and the Quadra. Atari owners have seen the 400,
800, 800XL, 800XE, 130XE, 520 ST, 1040ST, Mega ST, 1040
STe, Mega STc, TT, and, soon, the Falcon. These lists don’t
even include all the models that have been introduced. Simi¬
lar product evolutions can be cited for Commodore, Tandy,
and other companies.
Obviously, there has been a lot of change, a lot of “new”
models introduced. Why should this period be any more sig¬
nificant than a year ago or two years ago?
Atari owners are well aware that the move from the 8—
bit Atari to the 520 ST marked a major change in Atari’s
computing platform. Although there were a lot of 8—bit mod¬
els, they were all, essentially, the same technology. Each new
model introduced only minor improvements. The same is
true of the ST/Mcga line. Wc have seen several succeeding
new product introductions, but they all, by and large, repre¬
sented the technology first introduced with the Atari 520ST.
The Falcon, with its 68030 CPU and MultiTOS operating
system, is the first in Atari’s next generation computers.
On the Intel side, the change coming is also going to be
dramatic. If you purchased an IBM AT six years ago and an
IBM PS/2 last year, from a user’s perspective, there would be
very little different in these machines. Running DOS-based
programs, the new machines would perform much faster than
the older ones (faster CPU, faster hard drives, better moni¬
tors), but dBASE, or Lotus 123, or Microsoft Hbrd, would all
work essentially the same way.
Two things have happened this past year to make a dra¬
matic change in the mainstream PC marketplace. Microsoft
has introduced Windows 3.1 and this program, which puts a
graphical user interface on the mainstream PCs, has taken
over the market. Windows has been around for some time,
and people have purchased it since it was first released. How¬
ever, they didn’t often use it. On all but the fastest, newest
generation PCs, the system was Just too slow. It was far more
productive to Just switch back to DOS to get your work done.
And the fastest, newest PCs were, of course, very expensive
and relatively rare in the vast PC marketplace.
Because of the recession, or whatever the cause, the
price situation has changed significantly in the past year. PC
prices have been reduced sorpe 40 to 50 percent. Even in a
fast-moving technology area, this is a huge drop in prices in
a single year. 386-bascd computers, complete with color
monitors, hard drives, and software, can be had for about the
same thing early Atari pioneers paid for the 16K Atari 800
computer with disk drive. A 33 Mh/ 486 PC, with 8 Mb of
memory, a 200+ Mb hard drive, a super VGA color monitor,
and, of course, some software thrown in, can be had for well
under $3,000. This kind of machine is very fast.
This combination of maturing of the PC Windows soft¬
ware and the dramatic drop in price of muscle machines
means that a fast, efficient graphical user interface on the PC
is not only possible, it is becoming .standard In addition, we
will sec a new multi-tasking operating .system from Mi¬
crosoft that competes with IBM’s OS/2 and starts tapping the
power inherent in the design of the 386 and 486 Intel chips. In
the coming year, windows applications will take over the mar¬
ket as users move to these new machines. Users who still have
286 or older technology will find that they can’t run the new
operating systems or the new “graphical” applications. The
value of their computer systems will drop os dramatically as
did the value of the Atari 8—bit computers.
Atari ST/Mega owners will not be as impressed with all
these developments as PC owners. Their monitors do, indeed,
look very nice. But wc have enjoyed a grapincal user inter¬
face, and graphically-based application programs, for years.
In addition, those used to the Atari, or Mac, interfaces will
find Windows (or IBM’s Presentation Manager) rather clumsy
and inelegant.
Similarly, no Atari owner will be overly impressed with
the speed of 386-based ^sterns running a gra|)hical applica¬
tion. His Atari, particularly with third party accelerators, is
pretty darn fast itself. Even 486 systems won’t be able to leave
the Mega STs, boosted with the third-party 68030 boards,
behind in the dust.
Now, we wait for the arrival of the next generation Atari,
the Falcon. It promises to be compatible with our current in¬
vestment in ST/Mcga software, but what new wondrous capa¬
bilities will it allow? Only time will tell. It has been dcsigr^ed
with an internal direct processor slot for 386SX PC emula¬
tion. So, Atari owners can work in both their traditional Atari
world as well as the more dominant PC world. The Gemula-
tor, previewed in this issue, also gives Atari owners a choice
on how to work in both worlds with a single computer.
Many questions about the new Falcon remain, but they
will have to wait for awhile. Wc will bring you complete cov¬
erage of the German introduction of the Falcon next month.
Stay tuned to Current Notes for complete coverage of this
transitionary period.
Page 4
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
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Forbes Trashes Atari
Dear Editor,
I was surprised the other day in review¬
ing the posted messages on the GEnie ST
Bulletin Board that there wasn’t any mention
of the Forbes Magazine article on Atari Cor¬
poration (Forbes, August 3, 1992 entitled
“Cheap Didn’t Sell,” by Dyan Machan). Per¬
haps for those of us who have closely fol¬
lowed the fortunes of Atari through maga¬
zines such as yours, the thrust of this article
was really not surprising. Permit me to high¬
light the more salient points for those who
may have missed it.
At one time Atari, while under
Warner Communications, employ¬
ed 10P00 people worldwide with sales
over $2 billion. After problems with
poor-quality computer games, Jack
Tramiel was able to buy the company
from Warner in 1984 for $240 million in
promissory notes. To his credit, he built
sales back up to just under $500 mil¬
lion (after a $^ million loss in 1983).
Last year sales were $258 million.
First quarter 1992 losses were $14 mil¬
lion on $44 million in sales and second
quarter sales are due to be far worse.
Twenty-seven (27) executives have ei¬
ther resigned or been fired in the past
30 months.
The article goes on to say that Jack
Tramiel made a common mistake. “He
tried to duplicate a past success under
very different market conditions." He
sought to capitalize on his European
contacts from his Commodore days but
alienated European software producers
for the ST line by giving away pre-pack¬
aged software with sales of the ma¬
chines. With any advantage of software
selling the hardware beginning to fade
for the ST, PC computer makers such as
Dell, Leading Edge and others were
able to begin successfully selling inex¬
pensive machines in Europe. Last year.
Atari’s European sales dropped to $209
million from $342 million in 1990. Of
course, Apple and Commodore were
busy locking up shelf space in the U.S.
market.
The plan to have Federated Group
act as Atari distribution outlets proved to
be another costly error. Paying $67 mil¬
lion for the chain in 1987, Tramiel put his
youngest son, Garry, in his mid-twen¬
ties, in charge. Apparently, he wasn’t up
to the task because a year later Feder¬
ated lost $124 million and Atari closed
the stores.
In videogames. Atari spent
$300P00 promoting its 78(X) system.
Nintendo and Sega spent $15 million
each promoting theirs to gain 80% mar¬
ket share.
The Lynx in 1989 was a far superior
machine to the competition. However,
Tramiel had cut his software develop¬
ment down so much that the Lynx only
had four or five games to Nintendo’s
more than 80. Atari spent next to nothing
on national advertising (where have I
heard this before?!) resulting in Ninten¬
do’s Gameboy garnering 80%-i- of the
market.
The Tramiels seem to operate the
company under a penny wise pound
foolish philosophy. For example, the sen¬
ior Tramiel is reported to personally
check expense reports to see that res¬
taurant gratuities don’t exceed 15%. (His
income undoubtedly vastly exceeds
whatever minor dollar benefits might ac¬
crue. Sounds analogous to Nero fiddling
while Rome burned.)
The Falcon 030 is due out within
the next twelve months as well as the
latest videogame console, the Jaguar.
However, the article points out that to
have any real chance of making an im¬
pact, promoting these products would
require close to $40 million. That is al¬
most all of the cash Atari has. Indeed,
the company needs $24 million just to
cover its annual overhead. So what are
we looking at? Another great product
killed by lack of promotion?
The article concludes with a quote
from a company Insider, who says, “The
Tramiels are not stupid. But their formula
for success worked only once. They are
not adaptable people.”
After 14 years on >\^11 Street, I have to
say that it is a relatively rare situation to have
a company which had such a vastly superior
product (the ST in 1985) and in spite of it,
blew whatever competitive edge it had
through gross mismanagement. Here it is
seven years after the introduction of the ST
and its unique GUI (graphical user inter¬
face), and the hot topic of conversation is
Windows for the PC ... seven years later!
Atari had a fantastic lead and simply
watched it evaporate.
In my opinion, the best thing the
Tramiels could do is to follow the example of
Steve Jobs when he hired John Sculley from
PepsiCo to run the marketing of Apple’s com¬
puters. Like the Sculley-Jobs situation, this
person, whoever he might be, should have a
contract structured so as to allow them a free
hand in doing whatever needs o be done to
turn this company around and reassert its
technical prowess. No looking over the
shoulder, no second guessing. The Tramiels
should just fall on their swords, so to speak.
Of course, given their game plan to date, I
doubt Jack and company are looking to make
a graceful, albeit necessary, exit. I fear the
company will either be run into the ground
or sold, broken and bleeding, before this al¬
ternative is enthusiastically embraced.
In the final analysis, the most important
consideration for Atari is my opinion and
that of others like me who are nH)tivated to
be purchasers of new equipment in the near
future. This seems to be something which
Atari has woefully forgotten. In this respect,
the bottom line for me as a business user of
Atari computers (since 1984) is that my work
and the competition in the marketplac'e from
other vendors, who provide scrvic'cs similar
to mine, are forcing me to upgrade to a faster
processing platform. My brand loyalty is not
easily swayed. However, as a business in¬
vestment, there is a bigger picture which I
must consider, i.e. sohwarc availability as
well as manufacturer suihility. I honestly
cannot say with confidence whether Atari
will remain in business over the next year or
two. Also, in some respects the company’s
emphasis on Europe and ostensible neglect
of the U.S. market has already answered that
question. If Atari has decided not to service
the American market, why stiould I make
my business life difficult and try to paddle
upstream by purchasing their product (if you
can even get it)?
I have thought long and hard about my
next computer arxJ have yet to make up my
mind. But, I must tell you in all honesty that
the underlying truth, as delineated in the
Forbes article, does not enhance the prob¬
ability that Atari will benefit from that ulti¬
mate decision.
Sincerely,
Peter von Nessi
President
The Normandy Group, Inc.
[See Sam Tramiel’s GEnie Conference tran¬
script elsewhere in this issue for Atari’s re¬
sponse to the Forbes article. —JW]
Page 6
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
Needed: B & W Cookbook
Dear CN,
I am looking for a good cookbook pro¬
gram for the ST or the Mac that does not re¬
quire a color monitor.
Roger Smith
Wadesboro, NC
Help with DIM & SB!
Dear Current Notes:
I’ve written to ST Informer, AIM, and
other Atari computer magazines before about
the trouble I’ve had with FTL’s Dungeon
Master and Chaos Strikes Back, I’ve yet to
receive an adequate response if one at all.
But I’ll tiy one more time.
My system is a Mega ST with TOS 1.2
and four megabytes of RAM, 20 megabyte
hard disk drive, SLM804 Laser Printer and
monochrome and color monitors. I pur¬
chased a complete package in October 1988.
Since then. I’ve purchased many software ti¬
des, many games, some utilities. Most pro¬
grams I’ve experienced compatibility prob¬
lems with involve the game software. None
have irritated me so much as the FTL game
software problems.
The Dungeon Master program runs
flawlessly, except for the SAVE function. No
matter what I do, when I try to load a saved
game, the response is **data dami^ed on
disk.” The program is saving something to
disk. I’ve seen the file that it has created. Do
you know what could be causing this and its
solution?
I’ve heard that some programs have
trouble with systems that have four mega¬
bytes of RAM. Could this be what is hap¬
pening? I know that there is a program
called MAKEIMEG.TOS that seems to cure
some programs. Do you think this program
would solve my problem?
One individual from another Atari
magazine suggested my disk drive might be
misaligned. This doesn’t make much sense
because I have no problem saving data to the
disk drive.
This problem has been one big
headache for me. For years. I’ve tried to
learn the secret to my woes. No one has
helped me yet. I’d appreciate your sugges¬
tions or those of your readers. FTL has
turned deaf ears. As you know. Dungeon
Master can’t be played without the SAVE
feature. I can’t even begin to play Oiaos
Strikes Back, Any help you could provide
would be most appreciated.
Thank you,
Kevin Masterson
Down Side to Sparta Switch
Dear Joe Voters,
I did install the switches on the SPAR¬
TA DOS X cartridge as outlined in the arti¬
cle ’^Solving the Sparta DOS X Incompat¬
ibility Hassle,” by Charles A. Cole from the
June 1992 issue of Current Notes, The modi¬
fication did, indeed, work as described in
the article. There is, however, a down side to
this project. When the Sparta DOS X car¬
tridge is in the switched off position, you
cannot do a cold start from DOS such as Op¬
tion M — E477 because then the, computer
goes into its self test mode and you cannot
get out of it unless you turn it off. When I
ran a memory check with the cartridge in¬
stalled in the off position, it showed several
bad memory locations. When I removed the
cartridge and repeated the test, the memory
checked out O.K. I think you should be
aware of these limitations to the project.
Ron Fetzer
Elmont, NY
On to Atarifest ’92! j
Okay folks, here we go again. The WAACE A(ari-
Fest ’92 is just around the corner. Coming on October 10
and 11 to the Sheraton Reston Hotel in Reston, VA, a
nearly suburb of Washington, DC, the show is ready to
roll. Local as well as out-of-town user groups are band¬
ing together to produce the premier east coast Atari
computer show. A truly great event is planned, and all
that is now needed is an enthusiastic turnout of atten¬
dees. If past precedent holds, we’ll see a lot of your
faces there, with everyone having an exciting time.
New software and hardware always appear at Atar-
iFest, and rumor has it that the Falcon will be here in
the hands of a developer or two. MIDI is going to be a
major event this year, illustrating a particularly strong
suit of the ST, STe line. User groups will be on hand of¬
fering software and help to users, and The Swap Room
should be at least as much of a hit as it was last year.
Productivity software is expected to be more preva¬
lent than ever considering the terrific European imports
that are rapidly becoming available, and plenty of demos
are scheduled. If you enjoy games, your appetite should
be satisfied in the Games Room which will offer the
gamut of Atari’s offerings over the years. Couple all this
with a full slate of seminars, the banquet and lots of
demonstrations, and you’ve got a veritable feast for the
Atari advocate.
You really don’t want to miss this event. Lots of
folks come for both days, and a two day pass saves you
money. It’s quite difficult to take it all in in one day. Lots
of door pri'res are to be awarded to persons attending
AtariFest with drawings being held nearly every hour.
Bargain^ You bet! Some like you’ve never seen, espe¬
cially on Sunday; but you’ve got to come to play. Atar-
iFest has a wonderful vendor exposition, with many re¬
tail dealers and lots of your favorite software and hard¬
ware developers.
For you out-of-towners, the Sheraton Reston is
making special rates available from October 8 through
11. Call the hotel at 1-800-ROOM for reservations. It’s
quite a party we’re ^oing to have, and we enjoy meeting
the great folks from beyond the Washington metro area.
Hope to see you here!
Commit this to your memory banks: WAACE
AtariFest ’92, October 10 through 11 at the Sheraton Re¬
ston Hotel, 11810 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA
22091. Show hours are 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. both days,
and admission is $5.00 for one day or $8.00 for both.
Need more information? Call Ken Fassler or Betty
Burchell at WAACE DTACK, 301-229-1886 in Bethes-
da, MD. You may also write to WAACE, P.O. Box
4079, Merrifield, VA, 22116 l
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 7
Atari President Sam Tramiel Announces the New
JMtm QSD
at GEnie Atari ST Roundtable Conference
[On Wednesday, August 12th, Sam Tramiel, President
of Atari, was the feature speaker at a GEnie RealTime
Conference focused on the new Atari Falcon 030 com¬
puter. Reprinted below are the highlights of that con¬
ference. Note: names are represented by the GEnie us¬
er identification codes. -JW]
[Sysop] JEFF.W: On behalf of the Atari ST
Roundtable, 1 welcome all of you to the Atari Corpora¬
tion RealTime Conference featuring Sam Tramiel,
president of Atari....
Later this month. Atari will be unveiling the Fal¬
con 030 to the world at the Atari Messe in Duesseldorf
Germany. The Falcon has generated a lot of specula¬
tion and rumors over its features and abilities, as well
as hopes for the future of Atari in the computer indus¬
try.
Tonight we get a sneak preview of the Falcon. Be¬
fore the crowds at Atari Messe get to ogle the Falcon,
Sam Tramiel will give us a guided tour and answer
our questions.
1 know that many of you will have questions you’ll
wish to ask Sam, so I’ll try to get to as many of you as
I can. When it is your turn, you’ll get to ask only one
question during that turn. But you may have as many
turns as time allows. After you ask your question, [use
the] /RAl [command to raise] your hand again to be
put back in line.
The purpose of this Realtime Conference is to get
out factual information about the Falcon. Anything
else that Sam is prepared to share with us will be icing
on the cake. Please understand if Sam cannot answer
specific questions about things like marketing, future
products, and other non-Falcon related questions at
this time.
Sam, thank you for being with us this evening. I
understand you have some prepared text to upload to
us about the Falcon. You may begin the upload at your
convenience.
STRAMIEL: Good evening, all. I’m very pleased to be
here on our official online service, GEnie once again.
We’re excited to be celebrating the 20th anniversary
of Atari Corporation this year. We’re especially ex¬
cited because this is a time that we can introduce an¬
other milestone product to the world.
I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize some
people who have been close allies of Atari Corpora¬
tion. The entire staff of the Atari RTs on GEnie, under
the leadership of Darlah Potechin have been providing
stellar support to our customers for a number of years
now. I’m grateful for the support of Darlah, Sandy
Wilson, Jeff Williams and the rest of the GEnie RT
staff in supporting our mutual customers. We’ve just
signed a new agreement with GEnie, that wilt ensure
the continuation of GEnie being our online home.
In addition. I’m pleased to welcome the new pub¬
lishers of Atari Explorer Magazine, Mike Lindsay to
Sunnyvale as well. As most of you know, we’ve
brought Explorer in to our corporate headquarters.
John Jainschigg has moved on to other challenges, and
Mike Lindsay and Darren Meer are now at the helm
of Atari Explorer. Our online magazine. Atari Ex¬
plorer Online, is under the able leadership of Ron Ko-
vacs. Ron is best known for his years of experience as
the publisher of Z*Net Online Magazine.
Tonight, we’re pleased to be able to finally an¬
nounce the Atari Falcon 030 Computer. This computer
will be unveiled to the buying public at the Duessel¬
dorf Atari Messe in Germany next week. The Falcon
is a machine that we’re very excited about We think
that it places us back in the forefront of the “Power
without the Price” place in the market.
Here’s the specs on the Atari Falcon 030:
CPU:
Motorola 68030 running at 16 Mhz
32-bit Bus
Optional 68881 or 68882 FPU
RAM: 1,4, or 14 megs
Standard Atari Cartridge Port
Motorola 56001 DSP chip
Expansion Bus:
Internal direct processor slot for 386SX PC emu¬
lation, or other coprocessor
(iraphics:
Super VGA graphics: 640x480 with 256 colors
True color 16 bit mode allowing a display of up
to 65,536 colors
Accepts external video sync signal to allow high
quality genlocking
Overlay mode for easy video titling and special
effects
Overscan on TV’s" and ST Color monitors
262,144 possible colors
Hardware-assisted horizontal fine scrolling
BLiTTER graphics co-processor
Page 8
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
Sound Features:
Eight 16 bit audio DMA record and playback
channels
Stereo 16 bit digital DMA input
Stereo 16 bit DMA audio output
SDMA sound/DMA Coprocessor
Standard Ports:
SCSI II port with DMA
High speed LocalTalk compatible LAN
Connector for analog RGB color (ST or VGA) or
composite video
RS232C serial port
Bidirectional parallel port
MIDI IN/MIDI OUT
Stereo microphone input, miniature stereo plug
Stereo audio out, miniature stereo plug
Two joystick connectors
Two enhanced digital/analog controller/light pen
connectors
Data Storage:
1.44 Mbyte floppy disk drive
Optional internal IDE Hard Disk
System Software:
Pre-emptive Multitasking with adaptive prioritza*
tion (MultiTOS)
Inter process communication
NewDesk desktop and extensible control panel
Multiple window user interface; number of win¬
dows limited only by memory or software in
use.
We see this computer as exceeding all of the mul¬
timedia expectations of the computer buying public.
As well as being an exceptional value as a home com¬
puter system.
Extensive testing with the Falcon has already been
done on existing software. We are very pleased with
the high degree of compatibility. For instance, Power-
Net, a increasingly popular LocalTalk networking solu¬
tion works fine with no modifications. Calamus SL,
PageStream, WordFIair II, Cubase 3.0, STalker 3.0,
STeno, Arabesque, and many other well-written appli¬
cations will work perfectly.
That concludes our remarks, I hope you were all
impressed with how fast 1 can type! I’ll be happy to
take questions Jeff!
JEFF.W Do you have a price ready to announce for the
Falcon?
STRAMIEL No we will announce the price at the Dues-
seldorf Atari Messe, Jeff.
DRAGONWARE Sam, Thank you for the plug. What
kind of numbers will be available in the US. and how
soon?
STRAMIEL We are once again going to the FCC and I
realistically expect shipments into the US. in mid Oc¬
tober.
K.LONERGAN Are MIDI ports included?
STRAMIEL YES, MIDI ports are included with the
Falcon. We fully support the MIDI standard.
J.ALLEN27 Hi, Sam, thanks for visiting GEnie again.
Three questions: Is the Falcon going to stay black?
How are you going to market iL what venues, etc? And
is MultiTOS going to be 68040 compatible when re¬
leased?
STRAMIEL Colors and marketing plans will be talked
about at Duesseldorf and after that show, Jim. 1 have
to save something for next week. And MultiTOS will
be 68040 compatible! But sorry, we’re not comment¬
ing about 68040 machines.
S.CORLEY1 Sam, about the graphics capacity of the
Falcon. Why doesn’t it have 800x600 or, better yet,
1024x768 graphics, as that is the VGA standard now.
Also, has the BLiTTER chip been sped up to handle
the extra graphics bandwidth.
STRAMIEL Hi Scott. The BLiTTER chip has been
sped up to handle the extra bandwidth. The BLiTTER
is now running at 16Mhz. VGA normally doesn’t have
TRUE COLOR, which the ATARI FALCON DOES,
and this machine is aimed at having great color, great
sound, and with the DSP chip, some wonderful new
applications.
B.KING8 1) Are you going to advertise, and if so, how?
2) What is the deal with the GE Service contract? 3)
Can we expect Desktop (ie. Detachable keyboards)
models and Tower versions?
STRAMIEL As 1 said before, all marketing announce¬
ments will be made at Duesseldorf. I will not com¬
ment on future models of the Falcon. We are talking
today about a machine that will be shipping next
week. We don’t want to make future announcements
and get into trouble with Vaporware. And by the way,
for higher rez requirements, buy TTs!:)
R.PECORA Has the recent Forbes article influenced
Atari’s future marketing plans?
STRAMIEL My new office, which has a better view
than my old one, is so far quite satisfactory. And
Richard Miller is in my old office. The Forbes article
was a mish-mash and misconstrued article full of half
truths. We are anxiously awaiting the release of the
Atari Falcon to bring us back to the forefront. The ar¬
ticle has given us some laughs, but otherwise has not
affected us.
OAWALKER Evening Sam. PLEASE SHOW falcon at
Glendale for all the So Cal Boys.
STRAMIEL We will try our best to show it. There will
be a number of fine developers there, like Lexicor
Software showing Atari Falcon applications.
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 9
S.JAC0BS6 Would you please name some of Falcon’s
designers?
STRAMIEL The Atari Falcon was totally designed in
house at Atari, and it is not our practice to give out in¬
dividuals names. So many people are, and were, in¬
volved in the project. They all worked very hard to
bring this to a reality!
JM.HAWTHORNE Is the expansion bus VME?
STRAMIEL No, it is not a VME bus. It is a direct proc¬
essor slot that gives developers more flexibility.
M.RHODES8 How do you think the Falcon will com¬
pare with the industry dominating IBM platform?
STRAMIEL There is no comparison! The Atari Falcon
is far superior to the PC platform. Our challenge is to
get a lot of software for the platform, and a lot of peo¬
ple to buy it.
G.STOLLMAN Sam, you mentioned IBM emulation.
How close to true IBM 386 speed and power will this
actually be? By this I mean, like a 386 33 SX? Will
this require an add-on unit for more speed??
STRAMIEL Hi Gary. Bill Rehbock assures me that a
PC Board will be shown at Duesseldorf. We will give
you specs after the show.
JEFF.W Any comments about performance?
STRAMIEL Not until after the show, Jeff. Sorry. It’s not
our product.
RLORIMER Will the Falcon be sold will MultiTOS,
and will multiTOS be in the ROM’s? From what I’ve
heard it takes up close to a MEG if in RAM.
STRAMIEL Yes, the Atari Falcon will be sold with
MultiTOS. It will be a combination of ROM and disk
based.
S.AGARWAL Sam, Why no DMA (ACSI) port? How
shall I connect my SLM 804 to the falcon?
STRAMIEL We felt that the DMA port was not enough
of a standard port That’s why we went to SCSI II.
There are several third party companies that are work¬
ing on a converter box to allow you to connect up
your SLM to the Atari Falcon 030. The SCSI is much
faster than DMA, too.
NEVIN-S Thanks for coming tonight, Sam. As a de¬
veloper who depends on sales of Atari software for a
good portion of my living, I am excited about the new
Falcon. On the other hand, I see more and more peo¬
ple being fired from Atari, entire divisions being
closed down, etc. Atari seems to be very good at cut¬
ting costs, but is this really the time to cut costs? I am
concerned that once again Atari will have a great ma¬
chine technically, but that the corporation behind it
won’t be strong enough to make the Falcon fly.
STRAMIEL We are “right sizing” our company to re¬
flect our current rate of sales. We must conserve assets
for future growth with products like Atari Falcon. Ex¬
ample, with the new North America free trade agree¬
ment, we felt that we could handle Canadian sales lo-
gistically from Sunnyvale and have sales people in
Canada and the US handling both countries in a
north/south direction. We will support the Atari Fal¬
con throughout the world. And need developers like
you to support it as well.
C.ROSE4 I’ve been using 1040 ST because of it’s MI¬
DI capabilities. I also use C-lab’s Notator. I wanted to
buy a TT, but Notator won’t run on it. Will the Falcon
support this product?
STRAMIEL The new version of Notator will run fine
on a Falcon, just as the new version will run on the
TT030.
E.MONACO Is 16Mhz viable running multiple applica¬
tions? What can we expect?
STRAMIEL We’ve found it to work just fine. The
68030 is well suited for multi-tasking.
B.SALDANA1 The Falcon inspired me to design an at¬
tractive monitor stand for it called the STATION. Has
it been inspiring new or old software developers? H’ll
send you one Sam.
STRAMIEL At a recent Atari Falcon developer confer¬
ence, (organized by the capable Bill Rehbock) in the
UK, 1 was very happy to learn about new developers
and some exciting software that is already being devel¬
oped. The machines spec are so novel, that developers
really have to figure out all the new, wonderful things
that they can do with it I’m sure that we’ll see great
software within the next 6 months. Thanks for the of¬
fer of the monitor stand. I’ll look forward to it!!!
J.TORRES17 Sir, is the Falcon fully 1040STe compat¬
ible (graphics, 8Mhz, TOS, etc) or more like the TT?
STRAMIEL The Atari Falcon is VERY STE compat¬
ible. Much more so that the TT030 is. We really try to
make our products as compatible as possible.
SAM-RAPP Does this “Official Announcement”
mean that all these “Gagged” developers can start
talking nitty gritty with us info-starved masses? At
least some info?
STRAMIEL No more on our product, but they will be
welcome to discuss the applications that they are devel¬
oping that will be Falcon specific.
WORDFLAIR Sam, we are excited about the Falcon.
We will be launching several new products that take
full advantage of its power later this fall. The products
are being developed by us and by Digital Arts, GmbH,
the former development team for 3K Computerbild.
Page 10
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
STRAMIEL Lauren, it’s always a pleasure to have you
as part of the Atari team. Thank you for your sup¬
port!!
AD-VANTAGE The Falcon sounds wonderful Sam!
Could you discuss in general terms some of the new
software in development for the Falcon and what do
you think the most significant impact of the DSP
hardware will be on such new applications?
STRAMIEL I cannot give exact details tonight, but 1
think that the DSP hardware will open up a whole new
realm of communications type software. I’m pushing
very hard for voice mail type applications for the
home.
M.HILL13 You mentioned the SCSI 2 port is DMA
driven and the DSR too, I believe, but is the Localtalk
port DMA driven like on the TT or is it like the Mega
STe Localtalk port? I hope it is DMA driven.
STRAMIEL It is not DMA driven, sorry Mike. We
think that it is satisfactory at this level.
ABC.SOLN Can you comment on the future of exist¬
ing machines, especially the TT030. (There have been
reports that it is out of production.) For instance, will
upgrades to muItiTOS be available? Will trade-up deals
be offered?
STRAMIEL The TT030 is still in production, and we
do have plans to release Atari MuItiTOS for the
TT030. It is not a practice for us to offer trade-up
deals. That is something that is for the discretion of
the dealers.
M.RIVMAN1 MR.T. (Sam), welcome! As good as the
new machine looks on paper, we have all been hard hit
by lack of support by dealers/developers. PLEASE,
sell me on staying with the ATARI platform when all
my friends scream MAC for MIDI DTI* graphics!!!
STRAMIEL We have been reluctant to attack the US
market with the old machines. We feel that the Atari
Falcon is truly a giant step forward and we hope that
this will turn on users in the US. This will help get
our marketplace going. We are signing up new dealers,
and as more software becomes available, you will be
seeing us advertise in the US. But as I said earlier, I
will not go into details at presenL
W.RENKEL When will they arrive in the US, and
where do they fit into the current product line??
STRAMIEL They will be available in mid-October, and
they fit very well into our product line!
CONNOR Good evening Sam. I assume that the re¬
lease date for the Falcon will be the same in Canada as
in the United States, is this correct?
STRAMIEL If anything, it might be earlier in Canada.
That’s because I’m a Canadian, eh.
C.FLUEGEL Will it be possible to record/playback on
just a single of the sound channels, or will they only
work in pairs??
STRAMIEL According to Bill Rehbock my trusty tech¬
nical assistant, yes, you can record on a single channel.
T.MCCOMB Will MuItiTOS be available for the rest of
the ST line? If so, what kind of time frame for avail¬
ability? -Tom. Please tell me there will be a MAJOR
marketing effort in the USA otherwise only us
Chickens will know about the Falcon.
STRAMIEL MuItiTOS will be available for TT030 and
for future 68030 and above machines. We already an¬
swered the other marketing questions.
S.JOHNSON10 You said the Falcon 030 (is it actually
going to be called that, by the way?) has a 16-bit
65,536 color mode. Will that work at 640x480 or is
that mode limited to lower resolutions and, if so,
which one(s)?
STRAMIEL Steve, the machine is called the Atari Fal¬
con 030. The t6-bit true color mode will work in
640x480 interlaced on a TV or ST-style monitor. True
Color will also work in 320x480 on VGA monitors.
HAINES For ram expansion up to the max of 14 meg,
is the ram standard simms or proprietary type pack¬
ages? If not, is this the type of thing good chip mer¬
chants will have readily in stock.
STRAMIEL It is a custom board, but not proprietary.
We will have it readily in stock, and we are a great
chip merchant!
R.MARTIN22 Thanks for being here tonight. I’m
thinking of becoming an Atari dealer. What support
can I expect from Sunnyvale? Are the analog ports
you mentioned the same as those on the STe?
STRAMIEL Please contact new US sales director Art
Pruzynski regarding your dealer interest. We will sup¬
port you fully. Yes, the analog ports are the same as on
the Atari 1040 STe.
C.CASSADAY From your answer about MuItiTOS and
the ST, it seems as if 68000-based machines may not
be in Atari’s production future. Also, when, and in
what form can we expect MuItiTOS for the TT030.
STRAMIEL Hi Chris, the future of the 68000 ma¬
chines all depends on [what] the market wants, ie, what
sells. MuItiTOS will be available from Atari for the
Atari TT030 as an upgrade. We’ll supply details on
when later on, after Duesseldorf. From what I have
seen, MuItiTOS is fantastic, and is just as much a ma¬
jor advance as the hardware for the Atari Falcon. No
Guru meditation errors, and some really great graphic
features, and wonderful technical features.
(Continued on page 14.)
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 11
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MIDI Soft Studio v2 18.
Data Manager ST.-
IMG Image Scanner..
Timeworks DTE...
Design Ideas,....
Education Grapiucs. _
Peopk/Places/Tbings.-.
Symbols A Slogans.
$14.95
$39.95
$29.95
$39.95
$39.95
$19.95
49.95
i$14.95
$14.95
$14.95
$14.95
3D Pool
Action Fighter
Alien Syndrome
Altered Beast
Better Dead Than Alien
Crystal Castles
Dan Hire III
Dark Century
Ei^t Ball
F-T6 Combat Pilot
Fod’s Errand
Gdd Runner n
Gridiron W/ NFL Data Disk
Jigsaw Puzzlemania
Joust
Kenny Dalglish Soccer Match
Leatherneck
Leatherneck 4 Player Port (SS.00)|
Match Point
Mran Streets
Missile Command
Moon Patrd
Obliterator
Phantasie 11
Phantasie m
Q-BaU
Rambo m
Rick Dangerous 11
Rings Of Qlfln
Robotron 2084
RVF Honda
Spy Who Loved Me
Star Raiders
Star Wars
Stellar Crusade
Table Tennis Simulation
Test Drive
Thunder Blade
Viking Child
Wizaras Crown
isssisiiiiA
! 20 W»VIIICS
Colonel’s Bequest
Conquests Or Camelot
Code-bbme: Iceman
King’s Quest 11
MaMunter 2 San I¥ancisco
Manhunter New Yirk
Pdice Quest n
Migraph
Scanner w/
Ez-Draw &
Touch-up
Mm
mmmm
CetAFREE
SC1224 Color
Monitor With the
purchase of A
MEGA STE 2-4/50
(MADE IN ITIE USA)
2400BPS
EXTERNAL MODEM*
CALPAK FAX/Modem*.$119.95
Supra 9600 FAX/Modem.$289.95
Supra 9600 V.32bis FAX/Modem...$369.95
STraight Fax Software.$69.95
Stalker 3.0.$39.95
Flash II.$44.95
OTHER SPECIALS
Kraft Trackball.$69:95^ $39.95
MAXX Flight Yoke.$99:95 $59.95
MegaTouch.$14:95 $5.95
KeyMark Template Kit.$44:95 $5.95
Supra 52 MEG Hard Drive.
Supra 105 MEG Hard Drive.
SupraDrive 44 Removable.
Beetle Mouse...
Golden Image w/ Delux Paint.
Tri Pack (Deja Vu, Shadowgate &
Uninvited).
524 West Laurel
Ft. Collins, CO
80521
JR ATARI
✓IViCOMPUrER
Authorized Dealer
Prices subject to change.
THE COnPUTER STORE THRT ==RiJn5 TO /OU!
One MEG STE.$379
2 MEG STE.$479
4 Meg STE.... $579
IO YEAR WARRANTY
S.C0RLEY1 Sam, why did Atari choose to use the
fixed point 56001 DSP instead of the newer, more
powerful 96002 DSP which has floating point? Alsa
could you give more detail about Falcon graphics ca¬
pacities, i.e resolutions, tt of colors, scan rates, inter¬
lacing , etc.
STRAMIEL Scott, the primary reasons were price ...
the 96002 is much more expensive. The newer chip
doesn’t have the software tools available to take advan¬
tage of it yet. We’ll post more graphic details grin in
the bulletin board after Duessledorf.
C.OATES2 The Advantage article mentioned 16 bit in
only 320x200. Any other inaccuracies we should know
of in their specs?
STRAMIEL We have released the specifications of the
Atari Falcon tonight. You are getting all of the infor¬
mation straight from the horse’s mouth. We’d rather
not comment about the Advantage article.
M.ALLEN14 Does your comment about the FCC indi¬
cate that the Falcon is NOT Class B yet? If this is so,
how can you have significant quantities in the US by
Mid-October?
STRAMIEL We have not yet even given the machine to
the FCC. And we are only applying for Class B ap¬
proval. According to our “experts,” it should pass
Class B. We will not have significant quantities of
Atari Falcon until later in the year. October will be
just the beginning.
R.ALBR1GHT7 Have any As-of-Yet Non-Atari Vendors
expressed intentions to produce applications taking ad¬
vantage of the tremendous new capabilities of the Fal¬
con? Software from a well known vendor could do
wonders for enticing users of other platforms.
STRAMIEL Yes, there are some 30 new developers that
are producing software for the Atari Falcon. Several of
the developers are also NeXT developers, for example.
R.PAINTERS Will it be possible to upgrade to a 040,
or should I hold out for the better machine? (I can’t af¬
ford both).
STRAMIEL The Atari Falcon 030 cannot be upgraded
to an 68040, as far as the design goes. I’m sure that
you’ll find the Atari Falcon 030 very cost effective.
Buy one!
JM.HAWTHORNE How fast will the serial ports be,
and how many?
STRAMIEL The serial port (there is one) is driven by
the see chip. It is capable of full local talk speed,
250K baud. Also, we feel that the DSP port will have
great telecommunications applications with very high
speed things, like ISDN.
R.PECORA Is a Mega-type version Falcon a possibil¬
ity in the near future? Many of us prefer the external
keyboard arrangement.
STRAMIEL Sorry, as I indicated before, no comment
about future machines. Thanks for your input on the
external keyboard.
M.RHODES8 Do you think the “major” retailers (ala
CompUSA, Computerland) will carry the Falcon? Be¬
ing here in San Francisco, I only have 2 or 3 places I
can go for Atari equipment and I would love to see the
Falcon supported in these outlets.
STRAMIEL We sure hope that some “major retailers”
will pick up the Atari line. A good friend, that you all
know, named Greg Pratt, now runs Intelligent Elec¬
tronics. Why don’t you write him, and push him to
sell Atari products?
JEFF.W To everyone who we didn’t get to, my apolo¬
gies. But we —have— run through an incredible
number of questions and answers during this time.
Thank you all for attending and participating.
Sam, many thanks to you and the Atari crew for
being here and filling us all in about the Falcon. Many
best wishes for its success. Do you have any closing
statements you’d like to make before we adjourn?
STRAMIEL Yes, Jeff. Thanks for joining us here
tonight. And we appreciate your support of Atari. I’ve
just returned from Asia, where I saw the first Atari
Falcon production coming off the lines. Let’s hope
this new offering will make it in North America. I
know that the specs are great. We should have a good
chance, with all of your support. Good night, thank
you again for attending tonight!
JEFF.W Thanks again to Sam and all who turned out
here.
(C) 1992 by Atari Corporation, GEnie, and the Atari
Roundtables. May be rqjrinted only with this notice
intact. The Atari Roundtables on GEnie are *official*
information services of Atari Corporation.
To sign up for GEnie service, call (with mo¬
dem) 800-638-8369. Upon connection type HHH (RE¬
TURN after that). Wait for the UO= prompL Type
XJM11877,GEnie and hit RETURN. The system will
prompt you for your information.
[By the time you read this. Atari will have shown the
Falcon in Germany. But that event, unfortunately, will
have occurred after our publication deadline. However,
CN does have a correspondent in Europe and we will
bring you complete coverage of the Falcon rollout next
month. -JW]
Page 14
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
JIU GEMULATOR
The Atari ST Emulator for MS-DOS and Windows
A Preview by Milt Creighton
A Beta Test Preview
Several months ago, when I first saw the advertise¬
ment for Gemulator that Darek Mihocka’s Branch Al¬
ways Software placed in an Atari magazine, 1 was in¬
trigued. The prospect of running Atari software on
my PC interested me because it suggested an economi¬
cal way to keep a foot in two worlds. At one time I
owned five Atari ST computers ranging from a 520ST
to a Mega ST4. Now, I am down to two and the temp¬
tation to reclaim some of the desk space the remain¬
ing STs occupy occasionally surfaces.
For review purposes, Darek shipped a pre-release
version of the board and the third beta test version of
the software. Normally Current Notes only reviews re¬
lease versions of hardware and software products. The
reasons for this policy are obvious. It is not the re¬
viewer’s role to become a beta tester for a developer,
however important the product. In this case, the ST
editor of Current Notes decided to make an exception
because there has been a dearth of new products for
the ST and Gemulator is one of the more interesting
products under development.
One reason Gemulator is important is because it
is bound to be viewed by some as an ST-killer. Atari
ST hardware sales are marginal and declining at best.
The introduction of Gemulator won’t, in my opinion,
encourage any reversal of that trend. On the other
hand, some will argue that Gemulator could serve to
broaden the ST user base or at least slow its steady ero¬
sion so that software developers continue to produce
new and/or converted products for the ST. Conceiv¬
ably, superior ST products like Calamus and
PageStream could even draw new users to ST soft¬
ware. But these possibilities exist only if Gemulator
successfully emulates the ST in speed, power, and
compatibility.
Defining the Gemulator
For purposes of this preview, 1 will reiterate the
claims that Branch Always Software advertisements
make about Gemulator and then relate my own expe¬
riences while investigating those claims. My advice is
to pay close attention to the qualifying statements in
the ensuing discussion if you are interested in buying
this product.
Let’s begin by defining what Gemulator is and de¬
scribing the type of platform you should own if you
plan to install and run this ST emulator. First, Gemu¬
lator emulates a 2MB Atari ST. Gemulator consists of
three items: a small, 8-bit PC' board that fits in an ex¬
pansion slot in your PC-compatible computer, one or
more sets of original TOS ROMs, and the activating
Gemulator software. If your MS-DOS computer does-'
n’t have expansion slots (such as is the case in most
MS-DOS laptops and notebooks computers), you can’t
use Gemulator. Darek also states that you must have at
least a 386-based PC for Gemulator. 80286-based ma¬
chines and below do not have the power, or the ex¬
tended memory, to run the emulator. To his minimum
requirements, I would recommend using at least a
80386DX-based machine with cache memory.
Gemulator runs under both MS-DOS and Win¬
dows environments and features mouse and both
floppy and hard disk support. The release version will
allegedly also include modem support. Gemulator sup¬
ports all versions of TOS and emulates all three ST
screen resolutions (including the STe’s 4,096 color
palette). Gemulator does not support Atari sound (in¬
cluding MIDI) or joysticks.
Installation Is Simple
Gemulator is very easy to install. Simply plug
your TOS ROMs into the sockets provided on the card,
plug the card into an empty expansion slot and install
the software. That’s it I installed Gemulator in about
10 minutes and the most difficult part was getting the
cover back on my tower-style case.
My test system was a 486DX50 with a 265K
SRAM cache, 16MB of system RAM, a 17” SVGA
monitor driven by a Diamond Stealth VRAM card
with 1MB onboard, high density floppies of both
types, a 330MB Maxtor hard drive, and a 88MB Sy-
DOS removable hard disk.
As previously sjated, the version of Gemulator I
received was a pre-release version. While it would
read files from my hard and floppy disk drives, the
write capability was disabled—ostensibly to prevent
problems during the development process. This “fea¬
ture” made review difficult and, consequently, 1 can¬
not categorically state that Gemulator is capable of
writing to floppy or hard disk drives at all (not that I
doubt it will).
So, Does It Work?
Otherwise, Gemulator works pretty much as ad¬
vertised. 1 was able to run it under both DOS and
Windows 3.1 environments (more about that later) and
I successfully tried all Atari ST screen resolutions. I
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 15
ran WordPerfect 4.1 for the Atari, PageStream, and
Calamus, in addition to a number of utility programs
such as TurboST Gemulator choked on the mouse ac¬
celerator from Atari, Superboot (since writing to the
disk was disabled), a number of shareware programs
and all of the games 1 tried. Also, 1 was never able to
print from PageStream or Calamus. The problem was
probably not due to Gemulator, however, since 1 was
able to print successfully from the desktop. My PC is
connected to a Canon LPB4 laser printer and 1 suspect
the application printer drivers, and not Gemulator,
were at fault.
How Fast Is It?
1 ran Quick Index version 1.8 in the MS-DOS en¬
vironment to provide benchmarks for performance
comparison. 1 was unable to run Quick Index under
Windows for reasons 1 will describe later, but results
would not have been as good. All runs were made with
TurboST installed in order to achieve faster scores.
Here are the results:
Gemulator (TOS 206)
Mega ST4
1040 ST
Intel 486 @
TOS 1.4
IDS 1.4
25 MHz
50 MHz
16 MHz
8 MHz
CPU Memory;
79%
228%
135%
100%
CPU Register;
29%
86%
202%
100%
CPU Divide;
296%
576%
202%
100%
CPU Shifts;
318%
986%
206%
100%
DMA 64K Read:
67%
92%
2178%
100%
GEMDOS Files;
193%
160%
1801%
100%
TOS Text:
174%
520%
481%
453%
TOS String;
694%
2161%
1%2%
1969%
IDS Scroll;
58%
161%
144%
132%
GEM Dialog;
110%
235%
430%
218%
From averaging the above figures you can see that
Gemulator on a 486 running at 50MHz runs about
one and a half times faster than a stock 1040ST (with
TurboST installed) and at about 2/3 the speed of an ST
equipped with a 16MHz accelerator board Purists will
claim that some of the above measurements are more
important than others and they would be right for spe¬
cific applications, but for many uses simple averaging
should yield ballpark results.
Other Considerations
OK, 1 have stated that Gemulator works, quoted
speed benchmarks, and listed some specific applica¬
tions that perform properly, but that still dodges the
question of how well Gemulator works and ignores
some of the hidden costs.
To begin with, Gemulator is a memory hog. Un¬
der DOS it currently requires 7 MB of system RAM!
The emulator itself occupies 3 MB of RAM (although
that will probably shrink as the code is optimized).
Another 2 MB of RAM is consumed by the DOS ex¬
tender and the final 2 MB is required for the 2 MB ST
being emulated Add that up and the total is 7 MB for
the latest beta version. 1 doubt the total RAM require¬
ment will shrink significantly since new features con¬
tinue to be added. The implications are that Gemulator
will run in DOS only if you have 8MB or more of sys¬
tem RAM since most PC architectures don’t normally
add up to 7MB.
Under Windows, Gemulator requires 9 MB of
RAM, but much of that can be virtual memory rather
than system RAM. Windows uses a swapfile to in¬
crease available RAM for Windows applications by
reading and writing blocks of memory from and to
the hard disk. A 4 MB system with a 6-10 MB perma¬
nent swap file on your hard disk should be able to run
Gemulator. There are costs, however; swapfiles are no¬
where near as fast as system RAM and Windows itself
is pretty heavy overhead for an emulator to have to
drag around. The combination will slow Gemulator
significantly.
The sohware that comes with the package is really
the heart and soul of Gemulator. The small plug-in
board is only there to hold the TOS ROMs and provide
the necessary hardware for communication with the
PC. The software takes up about 4.35 MB of disk
space on your hard disk and loading and running a
program that big takes a substantial amount of time,
even on a fast PC.
Once you are into the program, Gemulator reports
the number of floppy drives detected, states whether
the parallel printer is on-line, and then describes the
size of the hard disk. Hard disk support is included in
the third beta test version of the software, but this is
one area where the buyer had better beware. More
about that later.
Gemulator displays a “?” prompt on the welcome
screen. This is an indication for the user to select the
options Gemulator provides. These options include se¬
lection of the number of floppy disk drives (up to two)
and whether to boot up in monochrome or color.
Gemulator supports both 5.25” and 3.5” high density
floppy disk drives, and defaults to a one-drive system.
Another selection allows the user to switch the order
of the floppy drive, i.e., the “A” and “B” drive desig¬
nators may be switched if desired.
Since it is possible to install multiple TOS ROM
chips on the board, Gemulator also lists the TOS ROM
sets available and requests the user to select one (if
you have more than one). The review item I used occa¬
sionally identified an additional TOS ROM set not in¬
stalled on the board. The program, of course, crashed
when this “phantom” TOS ROM set was selected.
Entering an “1” causes the TOS ROMs to be in¬
stalled and you will soon find yourself in the ST GEM
environment If you are using TOS 2.06, do not be dis¬
mayed by the error report on the opening screen; ig¬
nore it and proceed.
Page 16
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
Hard Disk Support
One of the two biggest problems I had with Gem-
ulator was in the area of hard disk support. To begin
with, you will need to run an Atari hard disk device
driver (not provided) in order to have GEM recognize
your hard disk. Other than ICD, which has built-in
copy protection, there are no Atari device drivers of
which I am aware that will drive hard disk partitions
larger than 32 MB. In the MS-DOS world, 32 MB can
be a rather small partition. I have several partitions
larger then 100 MB, for example, and one of them is
doubled through a disk compression program to more
than 200 MB. My smallest partition is 43 MB in size.
The implication of this limitation is that you may
have to repartition your hard disk if you want to use
Gemulator. In case you are wondering, that also means
that everything you have on your hard disk will be
erased. Since 1 wasn’t about to reformat my hard disk
for purposes of this review, I had to resort to trickery.
I reformatted my SyDOS drive with the first parti¬
tion set at 30 MB and (after copying the requisite files
to that partition) went into my bios setup and unin¬
stalled my hard disk. Rebooting the PC made the first
SyDOS partition my C drive. At present, Gemulator
only supports one hard disk (or one partition), but
Darek promises that while the release version will sup¬
port only a single drive C (or partition), future releases
will support up to 4 partitions or additional drives.
After running the Gemulator software and activat¬
ing the GEM desktop, I ran my Supra hard disk driver
from a floppy and installed the hard disk icon. Every¬
thing worked pretty much as advertised until I tried to
run a program from the installed hard disk. Gemula¬
tor apparently failed to respect the partition I had in¬
stall^ and responded with an error code when I tried
to access the disk beyond obtaining a directory listing.
Any attempt to access software (including getting a di¬
rectory listing inside a folder) crashed the system. I
have made repeated attempts to get Gemulator to re¬
spect the partition size and have yet to meet with any
success. The problem is probably with the SyDOS de¬
vice driver and Gemulator may have no problem with
your fixed hard disk drive, but check out hard disk
support within the warranty period. The problem here
is the PC world is so vast that it contains all sorts of
incompatibilities. To expect an emulator that patches
into a totally alien environment to be compatible with
every item in the PC world just isn’t realistic.
In the Windows environment there are also big
problems. I was able to successfully run a previous ver¬
sion of the Gemulator software from within Windows,
but the third beta version repeatedly hung up while
running the DOS extender. I tried at least a dozen dif¬
ferent versions of configuration (.PIF) files to see if
the problem was with Windows, but every attempt
hung up at the same point. Where the problem lies is
beyond me, although 1 still suspect Windows or the
DOS extender to be the culprit. I tried using only
HIMEM.SYS and EMM386.EXE and still had no luck.
Since Gemulator loads and runs under DOS on my
machine, I suspect the problem is not in Gemulator,
but that still doesn’t help matters. The current Gemu¬
lator software just flat would not run on my machine
under Windows 3.1. Darek has been made aware of
the problem and he is working on it
Branch Always Software will not market Gemula¬
tor themselves; that will be done through PMC, a divi¬
sion of Public Domain Corporation. Look for their ad¬
vertisements in this and other Atari magazines. Origi¬
nal TOS ROMS of various revisions will be available
through PMC as well.
The Bottom Line
Should you buy Gemulatofi In its present crippled
beta test form, the obvious and immediate answer is
no. But Darek promises the release version will be
fully functional and he was offering a 33% discount
for those who ordered through the end of August. I
have bought plenty of emulators for the ST including
PC Ditto 1 and II, Supercharger, and PC-Speed With
the possible exception of PC-Speed which worked as
advertised, I was disappointed with every one of them.
Gemulator offers more promise and, with the proper
platform, more capability than any of them.
But even a promising design still begs the ques¬
tion. After all, I have a better ST emulator sitting right
behind me in the form of my Mega ST4. For those ap¬
plications that require GEM DOS 1 can use that ma¬
chine and suffer none of the compatibility problems
inherent in any emulator. Also, the moribund Atari
software market is unlikely, in my opinion, to entice
dedicated PC owners to buy and use Gemulator, even
given the sophistication and power of programs like
Calamus and PageStream. Finally, the beta test version
I previewed has some major problems that will need to
be fixed before release. While I probably would not
buy Gemulator if I had to pay $250 to $350 for it, 1
will keep (and use) the preview copy Darek sent me
(with his permission, of course). I do not say this be¬
cause 1 feel the release version of Gemulator will be
inferior in any way, but rather because it does not suit
my needs any better than the solution I already own.
Those of you who read this may have different
needs and, perhaps, Gemulator will present a handy
solution for some of you. If you need an ST emulator
for your PC, then Gemulator is in a unique position to
satisfy that need and if the introductory price of $199
($299 after August) seems inexpensive, just remember
that you will have to come up with original TOS
ROMs for the Gemulator board as well. That same
amount of money could buy you a new (or used) ST
system with fewer compatibility problems even if it
does clutter your desk.
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 17
ST TOOLBOX^
V by J. Andrzej Wrotniak J
Why We Need Europe
0tto’i f 4li^hSpeed l^aic&l^
and -(iptll in ]^ati 5
ORCS—Again, the Best Things Come Free
For a long time I kept complaining about a miss¬
ing development tool on the Atari ST market—a re¬
source construction program (RCS) for GEM. For
those who may not be familiar with the name, a re¬
minder. A resource (.RSC) file contains a description
of all screen objects a program uses for user interac¬
tion: menus, dialog boxes and such. All this can be
hard-coded into the program, but it is much easier to
use an RCS to design all those widgets interactively on
screen (and, besides, a resource file can be mechani¬
cally translated into a corresponding program code).
The original RCS from Digital Research, the au¬
thors of GEM, has been initially distributed only with
the Atari Developer’s Kit—for a rather steep price—if
you did not want all the other stuff. It wasn’t so bad,
especially in Version 2, RCS2, which has been around
for five years or so. It has some bugs, sloooow saving
process and some painful limitations. On the other
hand, its user interface is simple and intuitive, and, af¬
ter all, it is doing its job (almost) all right.
Those who wouldn’t buy the Developer’s Kit had a
choice between pirating a copy (now you can buy the
RCS2 alone directly from Atari) and buying a third-
party product. WERCS and Kuma Resource were the
best known of these, distributed as stand-alone prod¬
ucts or packaged with some compilers.
Having some complaints about RCS2, 1 have tried
both Kuma Resource and WERCS. Both programs had
some features absent in RCS2, but, alas, both were far
from what I was hoping for: quite unreliable (read:
crashing), sometimes inconvenient to use, with some
irritating limitations and quirks. Not a polished, pro¬
fessional work I would expect from a development
tool.
So each time it was back to the old, cursed RCS2,
and it carried me through all these years.
Until recently. Last May, I found a shareware pro¬
gram from Germany. Called ORCS, or Otto’s Re¬
source Construction Set, it was written by Mr. Thorn-
sten Otto from Essen (formerly behind the Iron Cur¬
tain). After trying it out, I am not using anything else.
The program comes with two very short text files
in German, but the user interface is in English (with a
mild peculiarity here and there, but better than some
US programs I have seen). Even without any documen-
ions Global
E>rrBRN«L
UTILTf
INTERNAL
||cir||Bsp NlFllBj i
CONST
UNITS
LOAD I SAVE I OK
TRASH CAN
Echo 1
Text 1;
Load 1
Save ;
|a
1234587890123451 |
1 ^
1234567890123^
1 ^
1234567890123^ ii
lp
12345678901234^ 1
1234567890123451
1 ^
123456789012345|
E
|l234j
a
■USilyi
iCCBl234£
PS
vv
jl234£
MM
ro
CO
-in.
1234!
1234E
1234E
Page 18
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
ORCS Fil« Opti
eiobal Special
10:55:27 pfi
Touchexit
Crossed I
Editable
Checked 1
Hidden
15
S'
12
15
[SJ
11
iS
rn
8
11
[9]
7
6
Outsida 1 ti Black Hl^ J J 1 Ina f U Hhit# I
V- V .r. .'
Echo_„....
1^9
I
tation, if you know what an RCS does, you will have
no problems using ORCS, at least for the jobs of which
the Atari’s RCS2 was capable.
This last clause is quite important, because fea¬
ture-wise this program beats all others combined.
One group of improvements relates to the output,
i.e. the resource file produced by the program. First of
all, you have full control over the usually null parts of
some data items (describing buttons, editable fields
etc.). These parts are ignored by GEM, but your pro¬
gram may use them, creating lots of possibilities.
Also, the choice of files produced by ORCS in addition
to the normal .RSC file is wider: not just include files
(for C, Pascal, Modula-2, assembler, FORTRAN and
BASIC), but also complete source files in C and as¬
sembler. And yes, ORCS output is compatible—in both
directions—with the other RCS programs(which, by
the way, are not always compatible between them¬
selves).
The second group makes the process of using
ORCS much easier, faster and more convenient. Ob¬
jects can be moved and resized either with mouse or
by typing in the co-ordinates; they can also be easily
moved or copied between windows containing differ¬
ent object trees (not necessarily from the same re¬
source file).
There is even a “find by name” option, taking you
directly to the desired object, and a plethora of small
but useful touches, making the process of building a
resource much less of a pain. Mr. Otto has included
virtually everything I could think of, and a kitchen
sink.
Last but not least, the program seems to work
flawlessly. 1 have experienced no problems with seri¬
ous modifications to my huge resource files for the
newest El—Cal and Star Base, and this was a good
workout!
The only problem I found in ORCS is the maxi¬
mum string length of 64 characters in objects. RCS2
allows for more than 70, and one of the objects in
El-Cal is 72 characters long. Well, at
least ORCS does not trash the excess
characters (one of the other programs
does), and 64 is enough for practically all
applications.
My second complaint is even more
insignificant the Tempus-like desktop
with drive icons isn’t very useful, usually
obscured by program windows; just a
gimmick. Luckily, you can perform all
file operations from the regular File
menu, leaving the desktop alone.
If you were looking for a resource
construction program, look no further.
Otto’s RCS is a clear winner in terms of
both what it does and how. More, trying
it out costs you nothing; the thing is
shareware (1 found it on GEnie and Joe is adding it to
the CN library this month as disk «730). But if you
use it in your programming (and 1 know you will), get
an international money order for SO Deutsche Mark in
your local bank or post office and send it to the pro¬
gram author (his address is in the German text file).
Please do it: Mr. Otto did an excellent job and his work
should save lots of your time (and irritation). My check
is going out with a copy of this review.
Highspeed Pascal, Orphaned But Improved
Last May 1 reviewed the Highspeed Pascal here; a
quite good implementation of this popular language,
with powerful Turbo-like extensions, but also with a
few drawbacks limiting its usefulness in writing large
applications.
Some things have changed since then. The bad
news is that HSP is no longer distributed in the States
by GoldLeaf. Well, it looks like the programmer’s
market on the ST is quite small and a “regular” soft¬
ware distribution company cannot afford catering to it
The good news is that the compiler has been up¬
graded to Version 1.5, addressing most of my com¬
plaints. 1 have had an interesting e-mail exchange on
this subject with one of our Readers, Mr. Mark
O’Bryan from Paradigm Software Products. Mr.
O’Bryan has ordered the upgrade directly from HiSoft
in England (10 British pounds) and is quite happy with
the improvements. Most importantly, the 32k limit for
array size has been lifted, and the Turbo compatibility
has been improved by adding typed and structured
constants, and by allowing the assignment of a data
object to a given absolute address. The integrated pro¬
gramming environment has been cleaned up and a
multitude of small bugs were fixed. For those who are
interested, lots of information on HSP can be found on
GEnie (Topic 3 of Category 3, Page 475).
My own Version 1.5 from England is due shortly,
so an update of the review can be expected in these
pages within the next few months.
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 19
Prospero, Abandoning the US?
Another British firm, Prospero Software, the mak¬
ers of C, Pascal and FORTRAN compilers, can no
longer be reached in the States. A pity, because all
three compilers, albeit quite slow, produce a fast-run¬
ning code, are well documented and clean (and I’ve
used them all quite a lot!).
I’ve heard that Pacific Software from California is
still distributing Prospero products here. I wish I could
verify this information. In the meantime, some deal¬
ers still have Prospero software in stock (L&Y, Toad
and Joppa in this number).
What, No Phone Support?
Let us admit it: we are a bunch of spoiled brats
here. A few years ago Word Perfect Corporation had a
staff of more than 200 user-support representatives,
sitting at their phones and answering moronic ques¬
tions from people who did not know how to use Aeir
program. Well, the most popular word processor in
the world is not an achievement of user-friendliness
(or even of a logical and consistent design), but most
of the questions could have been answered by looking
into the program manual.
We have grown to expect this effort from anyone
selling us a piece of software. Certainly, it is nice to
have it, but guess who is paying all those salaries? San¬
ta Claus?
All this depends, of course, on the size of the mar¬
ket. Word Perfect sold, I presume, at least a million or
two copies up to date, not counting constant upgrades.
Maybe more. Most, if not all, of the questions con¬
cerning it are pretty standard and can be answered by
a person after a short training. When we move into a
less popular computer platform (as the ST versus PC)
and into a more narrowly specialized application (as a
compiler versus word processor), the market shrinks
dramatically. On the other hand, the skills required of
the person answering users’ questions will now be
higher: the support representative has to be a smart
programmer with a good knowledge of the inner
workings of the particular product.
Try to hire a person like that for less than $40,000
a year. If you are very lucky, you may find someone
for $35,000 (perhaps an immigrant). Divide this figure
into the number of copies you will sell in the same
time. A thousand copies? Fat luck! Nobody really
knows how many STs we have in the US, but various
estimates I’ve seen ranged from 50,000 to 250,000.
Only a small fraction of the owners do any program¬
ming, and there are ten or so competing compilers
(counting all languages) on the market OK, you’ve
spent a lot on advertising, a thousand. This means that
$35 from each copy price goes towards the phone sup¬
port! (You may argue with my figures, but add job
benefits, overhead, office expenses etc., and this usu¬
ally doubles the estimate.)
Well, some may say, on a small market there will
not be many calls for support! So what, I will argue,
the support guy (or gal) will just sit idle, but he has to
be there whether you need him or not. Well, give him
something else to do in the meantime. Again, this
may work fine if he is a programmer working on the
product: Charlie Johnson from the CodeHeads will
take an occasional phone call, and be knows well how
his code works. But if the program comes from
abroad, and the company is just distributing it here?
The truth is, we are as good as dead.
A new emerging pattern is that of small program¬
ming houses taking over the distribution of products
from overseas. Gribnif and Codehead, again, come to
mind, with some very nice software they distribute.
They have some people doing actual development and
taking an occasional phone call.
By the way, Gribnif sells the Pure Q an excellent
(supposedly, I haven’t seen it yet) compiler from Ger¬
many. The program must be good, as a couple of
years ago Gribnif’s Dan Wilga, the author of
NeoDesk, rewrote his program under this system;
only a year or so later they secured the distribution
rights. The bad news is, the market is so small that
they yet have to translate the manual into English! Just
the cold numbers.
Brits to the Rescue
In view of all this, more and more people are re¬
sorting to an obvious solution: buying the software di¬
rectly from Great Britain. Their market is much big¬
ger than ours, and their manuals are written in a lan¬
guage resembling English: it does not take a rocket sci¬
entist to figure out what programme means.
In the era of plastic money and functioning mail,
this makes sense. A knowledgeable review (I hope to
see more write-ups of programs from overseas, in
Current Notes or elsewhere) may tell us more about
the program than handling the box in a store, and a
good demo version may be better than a casual
dealer’s demonstration.
So let us not be put off by the “no US support”
thing. The American dollar is still OK, and British
companies want our money. Or, if the US distributor
does not provide phone support, so what? It’s nice to
have it, but we can do without. As long as someone out
there keeps writing programs you can use and enjoy,
you can get the software you need. All it takes is a 50-
cent stamp, a short letter and credit card number. Pro¬
vided, of course, that you know enough about the pro¬
gram—but this is up to the people who publish and
who write for the Atari magazines. Can we do some¬
thing here?
[Otto’s Resource Construction Set, CN **730, $4.00;
CN Library, 122 N Johnson Rd, Sterling, VA 20164.]
Page 20
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
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Moving Toad,
Making
Tadpoles
Some of you may know me in
my official capacity as part-owner
of Toad Computers. Writing in that
capacity, we recently moved our
store, and the story of the move is
filled with melodrama and feigned
agony—as well as some genuine
tough decisions. While it may seem
that this story is of singular impor¬
tance to Toad Computers, other
dealers (and end users) may find
our rationale interesting.
Growing in the Atari Market
We’d been in our previous loca¬
tion (i.e. humble location of 1,000
square feet) since 1988. In 1988 it
seemed a challenge to fill it. We
had a 1040, a 130XE, and about a
hundred software titles. Of course,
we grew over the next few years,
and we became increasingly adept
at stacking, boxing, bundling, and
creative hanging.
We even signed another three-
year lease in June of 1991. Sure
we’d grown much bigger, but by
storing our bulkiest stock (and sup¬
plies, like empty cardboard boxes
for shipping) off-site, we were able
to keep our store manageable. That
was the same month that we began
work on our first large scale direct-
mail effort—our first catalog.
Well, by fall the catalog was
out, the Christmas rush had begun,
and we were rapidly becoming ex¬
tremely cramp^. (You could feel
the fish oil being added, as if in the
final stages of the packing process
at your local sardine manufactory.)
To avoid being shipped away for
sale to the discerning fish-con¬
sumer, in December we began
looking for a new location.
Learning Our First l^csson
In December 1991, in our hum¬
ble ville of Severna Park, there
were about 20 empty retail loca¬
tions which fit our description (big¬
ger, larger, and cute). And the
economy was such that we felt we
could get a good deal (low retail oc¬
cupancy, low interest rates, desper¬
ate real-estate agents, et cetera).
There was one space in particular
that caught our eye—directly across
the street from us and about four
times bigger (3,748 square feet).
That location was shaped like a
giant L. There was a long “retail”
space, and in the rear (the base of
the L), there was a giant (read “cav¬
ernous”) storage room and office
area. And the ceiling was about 17
feet high—room enough for a sec¬
ond floor!
Our county’s building code
stipulates that in that type of build¬
ing, a mezzanine floor (our
planned second floor) can not ex¬
ceed 1,200 square feet (1/3 the
space of the ground floor).
The place had not been rented
since 1986, when it was a real-es¬
tate office. A woman had signed a
lease shortly after to start a “body-
salon” and health food store there.
One night (before the lease was
signed, incidentally), she and her
boyfriend flipped out on LSD and
demolished everything in the place
and took it to the dump. That in¬
cluded walls, ceiling tiles, and as¬
bestos (real smart) floor tiles.
Shortly after (and after the lease
was signed), the woman skipped
town. And her mother, a cosigner
on the lease, was sued to shreds.
This retail gem was left in the
condition that LSD-girl left it—no
walls, cement floor, no ceiling, no
plumbing. So, gallant Toad Com¬
puters, emerging from a flat local
economy, offering to take this
hard-to-rent puppy off of the no¬
revenue list, seemed a strong temp¬
tation.
We made plans for our second
floor, for the first floor, and nu¬
merous phone calls to get contrac¬
tor quotes on the buildout. The
landlord had promised to pay for
everything but the second floor to
be built—and it looked as if the sec¬
ond floor would not be prohibi¬
tively expensive. I was busy with
school, and creating our next cata¬
log. And since that space hadn’t
been rented in six years, we took
our time to do our planning right.
Fatal Error tt6.
When we were ready to sign a
lease in May, Francis (a virile
woman whose glares could freeze
mixed drinks, also the property
manager) decided that the bii^
we’d obtained for the work were
too high, and within a week, “her
guy” had bid the job at about
$30,000 less than our previous bids.
Cool. But by then, another player
had entered. Keep in mind that by
then (May), there was about half as
much available retail space here.
The other player was identified
for a long time as “the carpet guy.”
Yep. He had a carpet store. Just
what we need-more carpet. And
you can bet that it would be a heck
of a lot cheaper to put in a carpet
store than it would for them to set
us up to our specifications, what
with the second floor and all.
Page 22
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
To make an extremely long
story short, we didn’t get the place.
It would have been a lot easier to
take if the realtors had been hon¬
est, if the landlord there had been
honest, and we had been kept in¬
formed of what was going on. But
even though we had submitted a
letter-of-intent before anyone else,
what it came down to was money.
We spent too much time “doing the
right thing,” and all the landlord
wanted to see was who would be
cheaper to get operational. Needless
to say, they didn’t consider which
company might make a more sig¬
nificant long-term contribution to
the community. It would not be un¬
fair to say that 90% of the people
involved in that deal were either
dishonest or stupid, or both.
A New Home for Toad Computers
So there we were in late May,
with a brand new set of even-big¬
ger catalogs going out, and very
cramped indeed. And the cards
were stacked against us. Our local
economy had recovered a great
deal (as 1 said, there was much less
available retail space). And we were
going to have a hard time finding a
place as cheap as our previous find.
We started calling around like
crazy. Jennifer and 1 spent about
two weeks looking at places. There
was a 5,000 square foot post office
that was closing, an old house at¬
tached to a shopping center, a bike
shop, and many others. But the “di¬
et place” is what finally caught our
eye-but would it be too expensive?
The diet place was about 1,000
feet from our old location and
about ,4,000 square feet The diet
place had been operated by our lo¬
cal hospital, but was closed due to
program budget cuts. Unlike LSD-
girl’s place, this location was di¬
vided up into two halves. One half
was a large open room with an of¬
fice overlooking it (via a large win¬
dow). The other half was divided
into several mid-sized rooms, and
two large rooms. It was very tempt¬
ing, indeed.
We’d always wanted to have a
classroom. We’d always wanted to
have offices. We’d always wanted
to have a stockroom. An eight-bit
room. A repair lab. You get the
idea.
The only banana-peel was
price. The diet place was in a new,
modern shopping center (built
1987). The giant Texas-based devel¬
oper, Trammel-Crow, owned the
shopping center. And as we all
know, they can be unrealistic.
The advantage that we had
here, though, was that we required
no buildout. We loved the place as
it was—with its spacious rooms,
beautiful carpet, vast windows, and
10-ton polished-pine doors, it was
perfect. So we traded our reduced
initial cost for reduced rent, which
is better for us.
We worked furiously (“propose
$2,000 cheaper,” was bandied fre¬
quently) with Trammel-Crow and
our Luke Skywalker-like real estate
agent for about two weeks, and by
the end of June the lease was
signed. We moved in in July. We
even squeezed some free rent out
of them. And the price was signifi¬
cantly less than our original loca¬
tion.
The Birth of Toad Music
Things were starting to come
together. The only thing that had to
be resolved at that point was what
to do with our old location. We’d
signed a lease that would not expire
until June 1994, and while the land¬
lord was flexible about another
party taking over the lease with no
penalty, it was still our responsibil¬
ity to find another party, which
costs money. We got to thinking
that maybe it wasn’t so smart to
give the place up.
A friend of ours, Alex, (who
had been working as a buyer and
manager at Tower Records in An¬
napolis for a year) had expressed in¬
terest in starting a specialty music
store in the location, but was reluc¬
tant because of the risk. We
thought the idea was great, but de¬
spite our encouragement, he still
felt the risk was too great. Jennifer
and I decided, while on a short ca¬
noe trip one evening, that we would
start the music store ourselves.
We wanted to sell compact
discs and Atari MIDI equipment,
and perhaps Lynxes there. A recent
survey revealed that the only thing
Severna Park residents felt was
missing from their community
was a music store. So the risk
wasn’t that great—the lease had
only two years remaining, and the
worst you can do is end up with a
bunch of CD’s. And similar stores
in the region thrive.
After re-convening with Alex,
he decided that he would be willing
to share in the risk with us, and so
Toad Music, Inc. was formed. This
was perfect. Alex could manage the
music store—and to top it off, he’s
an Atari MIDI nut!
The same night as the canoe
trip, Jennifer and I made up a
schedule for the summer. We would
open Toad Computers at their new
location in early July. We would
open Toad Music by August 1st
And amazingly enough, here on
August 7th, 1 can tell you that we
stuck with our schedule. We pulled
four all-nighters in the last 30 days.
But the work is done. And Toad
Computers and Toad Music are
both now in a position to make
money!
Wc Wanted a Retail Outlet
People have said that because
most of our income is generated
from out-of-state, mail-order sales
that we should have moved to a
cheaper warehouse location. But I
don’t think that is really fair to our
customers. When you want to shop
for a microwave oven or a TV, you
don’t go to a warehouse, you go to
a retail store. To relocate to a ware¬
house would be tantamount to tak¬
ing out a print ad that says, “Atari
Computers are not fit for the main¬
stream market.” That’s not what
we believe. There also is no ware¬
house space in our immediate area.
I feel a responsibility to our local
area-my hometown. Relocating to
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 23
another area would remove whatev¬
er influence I might have as an ev¬
eryday resident. (It’s one thing to
sell snake-oil in your hometown,
but it’s another thing altogether to
sell snake-oil three towns over.)
Other Atari resellers should
consider that having a place where
customers can come and look at
hardware and software is an impor¬
tant part of being a responsible
dealer and in the end, making the
sale. Making a commitment to be
in one place means that a customer
can trust in you, build a history
with you, and ultimately buy more
from you. Otherwise, there’s no ac¬
countability. And for all the cus¬
tomer knows, you can skip town
whenever the heat is turned
up—just like LSD-girl.
Anyway, you’ve heard the saga.
The scumbag realtors are why it
took us six months to move (and
we thank divine providence daily
that things went the way they did).
Alex (and our lease) is why Toad
Music exists. And now you know
why we’re so excited. We’re finally
in a position to fully (and enthusias¬
tically) support every aspect of the
Atari, and thanks to Toad Music,
we’re now really supporting MIDI.
Between our grand opening
and our moving sale, we pulled in
about 500 people. That was very
promising. Thanks to our new loca¬
tion, we’re holding this “Fest before
the Fest” event, before the WAACE
Atarifest. That, too, should be very
promising, as several notable guests
have already agreed to attend.
We’re also now sponsoring pseudo
user-group meetings, classes, and
more. And it’s all thanks to the
new location. Those interested in a
complete roundup of our activities
should read file 025048 on GEnie’s
ST roundtable. But again, our new
location is making the impossible
possible.
Link Will Be Hot
Sure to be the hot product this
fall is ICD’s “The Link.” As you
probably know by now, it’s an ex¬
ternal SCSI host adapter for Atari
Computers without true SCSI ports
(everything except for the TT030
and Falcon). The LINK is revolu¬
tionary for two reasons.
First, it’s external. That means
that Mac (or PC) external SCSI de¬
vices with 50-pin Centronics con¬
nectors can be used, without even
opening their cases, Erectly on the
ST. The Link simply plugs into the
rear of the drive and translates to a
DB19 for connection to the ST’s
DMA port. Right away, you’re
opening doors to the hundreds of
external SCSI drives available for
Macintosh and PC.
The second reason you’ll lust
for The Link is the software ICD
will be bundling with it Because
they now support full 16-bit SCSI,
they’ve been able to write drivers
for Atari’s Metados which support
CD ROM drives. So now, just about
any standard SCSI CD ROM drive
can be used on any ST. This is way
cool.
ICD’s new software also sup¬
ports the Insite Peripherals 21MB
floptical SCSI drive. For those of
you who are unfamiliar with flopti¬
cal technology, a standard 3.5”
high-density disk is embedded with
“optical” tracks, which are read by
a laser in the drive. The optical
tracks are used not for data stor¬
age (as on CD-ROMS) but rather
for alignment of the standard mag¬
netic head in the drive. By using
this precise optical alignment tech¬
nology, data can be reliably stored
in the magnetic dead zones be
tween tracks on standard diskettes,
vamping their capacity up to a
whopping 21MB. The drive formats
just like a Seagate ST225N SCSI
drive. But in addition to this high
capacity mode, ICD’s new software
gives the drive the ability to read
standard 720K and 1.44MB disks!
Tired of funky hardware mods just
to be able to read PC 1.44MB
disks? The Insite drive requires no
modifications and will read your
standard ST disks, 1.44MB ST or
PC disks, as well as the super-high
capacity 21MB disks. Again, The
Link and its associates will be very
hot products.
Of course, the Falcon’s official
public release in Duesseldorf will
be watched worldwide by Atari
nuts. I will be there (two weeks
from today), introducing our new
Stealth SCSI hard drive subsystem.
They’re custom designed to be
small, portable, and will work on
the TT030, Falcon, or any ST (via
The Link). Expect those out in &p-
tember—regardless of the Falcon’s
release date.
See You at the Fest (Before, or
Otherwise)
I hope to see y’all at both our
event (to check out our new loca¬
tion, nudge nudge) as well as at the
WAACE Atarifest. Those who
think that the Atari market is in
any way slow or dwindling, think
again—we’re having a grand old
time. All you need is the right atti¬
tude.
Show Information
WAACE Atarifest:
October 10 & 11
Sheraton Inn, Reston, VA
10:00 am—6:00 pm
Contact Charles Hoffmann
(703) 629-6734
Toad Computers
“Fest Before the Fest”
Thursday October 8,1992
8:00 am—10:00 pm
Friday October 9,1992
8:00 am—5:00 pm.
Toad Computers
570F Ritchie Highway
Severna Park, MD
Call (410) 544-6943
How to Reach Me:
Phone: (410) 544-6943
FAX: (410) 544-lFAX
MAIL: David TVoy
570F Ritchie Highway
Severna Park, MD 21146
GENIE: Toad-Serv.
Compu¬
Serve: 72470,1605
Page 24
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
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Charge Of Light Brigade
CHICAGO 30’s
CHICAGO 90
C Yger Adv Fight Tranr
CLOWN-O-MANIA
Cosmic Pirate
CRACK DOWN
CUSTODIAN
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Fernandez Must Die
FINAL LEGACY
FLIP-IT & MAGNOSE
FUSION
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Greg Norman Golf
Hot Ball (4-Player)
HYDRA
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KILLDOZERS
LAST NINJA 2
Legend of the Sword
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The Junkyard Pussycat’s readers will be seeing
this column in early September, soon after students all
over America return to their classrooms. It seems like
as good a time as any to address a couple items related
to education.
The Demise of the Heathkit
The Pussycat and millions of his contemporaries
found electronic assembly kits to be an essential part
of their adolescence. One could take the pennies labo¬
riously saved from one’s paper route to the local outlet
for Heathkit, EICO, or a couple other companies and
bring home a carton filled with vacuum tubes, knobs,
switches, screws, pre-drilled chassis parts, and circuit
diagrams.
With a soldering iron, a few nut drivers, and
suitable wire cutting tools one could follow simple in¬
structions and assemble all sorts of electronic devices
ranging from a simple electronic multimeter, up
through stereo components, and on to color TV sets
and oscilloscopes.
Exceptionally careful and dexterous workers could
get the items to work as soon as they were plugged in,
but many others had to turn to the troubleshooting
section of the manual for help in finding the miswired
parts of the circuit and correcting the problems. Along
the way people could pick up a few bits of knowledge
about electronics.
One of the Pussycat’s Current Notes colleagues, a
person of tender years but exceptional maturity, re¬
cently informed him that Heathkit, the company that
set the standard in this arena, has gone under com¬
pletely. The company was undoubtedly beset by finan¬
cial woes, but it also seems that several cultural and
technological changes contributed to this.
While everyone looks back fondly on the things
they did as a youth, the Pussycat feels that the loss of
Heathkit and its kin is a special sign of the gradual cul¬
tural impoverishment of our nation. Developing
minds will have less opportunity to hone their mental
and motor skills with the kind of fine work that is
needed to make electrons follow their appointed course
to amplify signals snatched out of the sky.
Technological Change
Heathkit must be viewed, at least in part, as a vic¬
tim of technological progress. The bulky VTVM’s
(Vacuum Tube Voltmeter) have been replaced with an
array of cunning microchips encased in a plastic box
the size of a pack of cigarettes. The modern multime¬
ter switches ranges automatically and displays its read¬
ings to 3 or 4 digits on an LCD. A single 9-volt transis¬
tor battery replaces the wall socket and power cord. In¬
deed, there are now devices that display AC wave¬
forms in LCDs, thus reducing the need for bulky and
expensive oscilloscopes.
One shudders to think what the inflation-adjusted
price of a VTVM kit that cost between $40 and $50 in
the 1950s would be today. The move to integrated cir¬
cuits and improved packaging have kept the price of
these tools within reason. It now makes more eco¬
nomic sense to have Mexican labor assemble the
small number of chips and printed circuit boards into
a finished product than it does to dump them into a
box for assembly by the end user.
As devices have become smarter, assembling
them into workable gadgets has become more de¬
manding. A few electrons from a bolt of static electric¬
ity will destroy many of today’s integrated circuits, so
that working with them requires increased care. In¬
creased sensitivity requires that signals be routed more
carefully to avoid interference. The high frequencies
needed for digital processing must be shielded to avoid
pickup by other sensitive devices nearby.
This progress has come at a price, as anyone who
has lost his computer system to a power spike can at¬
test The march of solid state technology has, however,
been inexorable. It still pains the Pussycat to trash an
appliance because it costs more to repair it than it does
to buy a new one with a newer generation of chips in¬
side. Computer technicians these days are often elec¬
tronic illiterates who simply swap boards. And, finally,
woe betides those whose under-the-hood microproces¬
sors die while on the way to Ocean City on a hot sum¬
mer’s day.
A few years back the Department of Defense was
wondering whether the vacuum tube circuits in Soviet
aircraft were actually a clever adaptation to the electro¬
magnetic pulse effects that might blind many U.S.
smart weapons in nuclear war.
While we are waiting for more robust technology
we are at the mercy of the people who write the com¬
puter programs that design the chips. Given the
widespread concern with the “dumbing down” of our
Page 26
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
school populations, one wonders if there are enough
people with the smarts to do this work.
Distractions
When one looks at what kids do these days, one
wonders if we are giving youngsters the motor skills
and the intellectual stimulation needed to become en¬
gineers and scientists. The Heathkit generation had the
time to sit down at a workbench with a soldering iron
because they were not distracted by television cw com¬
puter games. They also were not forced to compete in
spring, summer, fall, and winter soccer leagues. If
they were restless, they could open a book and let their
mind’s eye supplement the contents of the printed
page. .
It now seems that a restless child trots off to the
Nintendo console and allows someone else to create
his images for him while wreaking mayhem with
tools no more sophisticated than a joystick and a fire
button.
A university professor friend of the Pussycat’s was
passing through the other day and lamented that the
new generation of college students lacks the ability to
manipulate objects in three dimensions, thus greatly
complicating the task of teaching crystallography, a
subject basic to many fields. Has the flat screen really
entrapped young minds to such an extent?
If; indeed, the imagery in young minds is exclu¬
sively under the control of the TV and computer game
writers and if, indeed, young people have nothing bet¬
ter to do with their hands than to turn on the TV or
push the fire button, our society is surely poorer than
it was just a few years ago.
Don’t Teach Your Kids to Program
The same university professor friend of the Pussy¬
cat’s also stated that he was slated to teach a course in
computer programming for chemical engineers in the
coming term. This, of course, brought the Pussycat
back to one of his perennial pet peeves.
People should not be taught to program comput¬
ers. The Pussycat feels that People should leant to pro¬
gram computers when they need to in order to solve
problems that interest them. What’s the difference be¬
tween the former activity and the latter? In the second
case, the desire to learn and the subject content are
driven by needs that the student feels. In the first case,
the process is driven by some educator’s idea of the
student’s needs. It is not too hard to see that these are
often very different.
Over time, computer scientists have tried to make
their trade respectable by building an abstract intellec¬
tual base for it. Writing computer programs becomes
an end in itself. The chemical engineering department
at the professor’s university apparently recognizes this
and is not willing to subcontract the task of teaching
computing out to the computer science department.
What should they do instead?
The Pussycat suggests that they integrate the use
of computers into all of the problem solving activities
that engineers encounter in the course of their educa¬
tion. Freed from the quandary of deciding whether to
teach QuickBasic, Pascal, or FORTRAN, or all three,
educators will have more time to teach their subjects.
Use the tools that are most appropriate to the problem
at hand. Let the students mature in their scientific so¬
phistication to the point where they themselves decide
which tools are the best for the problems they have to
solve.
This model assumes that students have computers
close at hand when they need them and that the com¬
puters are outfitted with a variety of software tools. It
also assumes that the educators have adapted those
tools to the needs of their curricula. These are not
easy tasks and it is often simpler to say, “Let’s teach
the students programming and hope that they come
up with things that we can use.” It is obvious that this
later approach represents little more than wheel spin¬
ning for the students.
The Pussycat suspects that it is also counterpro¬
ductive because the tedium of learning to program
will only seldom be relieved by the joy of discovery
that comes at recognizing when a problem has been
solved. Students already have plenty of rote learning to
do without being burdened with more of it.
Rote learning is no longer recognized as a good
way to study foreign languages. It is far better to con¬
verse, read, and write as befits one’s needs. Human
languages have their own grammar, vocabulary, and
sets of colloquialisms. It is the same with computer
languages and learning these in an isolated context is
just as unrewarding.
The model in which learning is driven by the
need to solve a problem has served the Pussycat well
over the 30-t- years he has spent in his career. He has
observed the way it works in others and finds it to be
far more satisfactory than the spoon-fed alternative.
Non-Programming Tools
For many introductory purposes in education one
does not need to know how to program in order to use
a computer. Spreadsheets are a very good example.
The Pussycat finds them an excellent tool for crystal¬
lographic work because a change in one parameter of
the structure is instantly reflected in the outputs. A
statistical spreadsheet lays out all of the data at the
same time it presents the summary statistics. Quick
plots are possible with a few selections. There are
many models of phenomena in astronomy, chemistry,
and physics that can be expressed in simple equations
that are easily laid in spreadsheet form. Organizing
data so that its significance can be grasped at a glance
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 27
is an important skill. Spreadsheets promote this
without the tedium that is associated with formatting
output from even the simplest BASIC program.
Symbolic manipulation programs like Theorist
and Mathematica are also powerful tools. The equa¬
tions that represent the phenomenon being modeled
are always at the forefront in these tools. This helps
the user ai^reciate the way in which assumptions and
changes in parameter values affect the outcome
without getting buried in the details of FOR-NEXT
and other constructs.
Laboratory data collection is an area where pro¬
grammers once reigned supreme. Nowadays, we see
tools like Lab Tech Notebook and Labview that modu¬
larize this operation by allowing the user to connect
computer-controlled instruments together in a fashion
that emphasizes the character of the experiment
rather than the program that controls it
Programming as a Craft
There is more to programming than simply writ¬
ing down a bunch of statements and compiling them.
Some people have the knack; others will never acquire
it Proper debugging takes a lot of patience. Experi¬
ence is often the best guide to the most likely ap¬
proach. Techniques that work for one programmer
sometimes fail for others. Given these observations it
seems best to think of programming as a craft that
must be practiced rather than as a subject, like algebra
or chemistry, that can be taught (although not every¬
one is capable of digesting these, either).
The Pussycat has seen too many of the summer
interns who have worked for him throw iq) their hands
over programming mistakes without ever trying to
puzzle out the sources of the problem. It seems that
they want instant gratification. They fail to appreciate
their own capacity for making errors. If their Hrst ap¬
proach does not work, they want to switch to some¬
thing else rather than bring the problem to a solution.
This seems like another version of TV channel
switching. For many of them their summer work is
their first experience with the necessity of bringing a
significant task to completion. Their public school
teachers have frequently praised half-completed efforts
so that they could move on to give a few minutes to
the next student
A properly chosen problem in science or engineer¬
ing becomes the motivator to force its own solution.
Curiosity as to the form the answer might take has
kept the Pussycat awake through many a long night,
with the beauty of the answer as an ample reward in
dawn’s early light The Pussycat envies today’s stu¬
dents for the tools that are available to them for ac¬
quiring a mastery of complex subjects like astronomy,
quantum theory, and electromagnetic radiation. Mere
“chicken tracks” can be transformed into illuminating
images on the screen.
The technique of learning by solving problems
has probably not changed in the last 30 years, but the
problems may have become more complex. Phenom¬
ena that were overlooked in the rush to derive equa¬
tions for closed form solutions can now be explored in
exquisite detail. One wonders, however, if the idea that
the planets’ movements are chaotic is more comfort¬
ing than the old music of the spheres.
When to Program
There Finally comes a time in the life of a scientist
or engineer when the problem at hand becomes com¬
plex enough that one is forced to sit down and write a
program. Given that computers only do what they are
told to do, the programmer must accept the responsi¬
bility for developing an efficient and correct method
for solving the problem. He must then code this solu¬
tion into a set of instructions that the computer knows
how to interpret This coding process will be guided
by the syntax of the programming language, the va¬
garies of the compiler, and the ability of the computer
to do simple arithmetic.
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Page 28
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
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Fragments and
Dungeons
This month, we’re returning to the ever-nagging
concerns over maintaining hard drive contents; but first
a word about this Atarian’s favorite dungeon.
IBM Dungeon Master is Here!
On Saturday, August 1st, I visited my friendly
neighborhood Atari dealer and saw (on the PC side of
the room) a box wearing familiar cover art. Yes, the PC
version of Dungeon Master is finally out!
There’s a piece of hardware in the package; accord¬
ing to the box illustration, it seems to consist of a mul¬
ti-pin connector with two short cables on the other side.
Early word from FTL had been that the PC version
would not require any additional hardware. This must
be it.
Congratulations to FTL Games for getting this
package out the door; it’s been a long time coming
(nearly four years?).
Folks have suggested that others have improved
upon FTL in games released the last couple years or so.
1 think that if FTL adhered to the same standards of ex¬
cellence with this PC port as with the original, it’ll be
well worth the attention of PC gamers. DM fans will be
hoping this is a signal of renewed US activity from a
fine team of game builders.
Return of the Defraggers
The April 1989 issue of Current Notes carried my
article on managing a hard disk drive’s contents, in
other columns, we’ve dis¬
cussed the value of hard
disk optimization pro¬
grams, or defraggers.
The one I’ve used for sev¬
eral years is an early ver¬
sion of Tuneup! from
Michtron, and it has
served me well. This pro¬
gram was later bundled
with some other
Michtron programs and
marketed as their Toolkit.
I recently purchased a bigger hard drive and began
to wonder if my old version might have problems with
partitions bigger than 16MB. Oops. I figured it just
might be time to replace that ol’ trusty program with a
newer model: Beckemeyer’s Hard Disk Sentry.
If You Just Came In...
Any hard drive will eventually experience fragmen¬
tation, which is a condition that occurs because of the
way the system’s file management software allocates
space to a file.
The system maintains tables on the drive which
serve to keep track of what portions of the disk are cur¬
rently allocated to which files and the location of avail¬
able space for new files. There’s also information on
how the sectors are chained together, defining the or¬
dered string of data that is each file.
As files are created and deleted, these “free” areas
get kind of chopped up, with chunks of available space
scattered around the disk. New files also get cut into
pieces as the system looks for and allocates space for
them. This phenomenon is called fragmentation.
When you’re reading a file that is seriously frag¬
mented, the drive’s read heads may have to move
around quite a bit in order to read the file in the correct
logical order. This eventually starts to slow down the
process. The same sort of thing happens when you’re
creating files as the system searches out free space for
them.
On the Atari ST machines, versions of TOS earlier
than 1.4 slowed down dramatically when the disk be¬
came heavily fragmented. This was due to inefficiencies
in the disk management software. TOS 1.4 and later
versions fixed this problem, but fragmentation can still
have an observable impact on system performance.
What a defragger does is rearrange the files on the
drive so that the file is stored in contiguous sectors (ac¬
tually groups of sectors called clusters). The program
also gathers up all the free space into a contiguous set of
available clusters. Also at issue is where the free space is
concentrated: at the beginning of the disk or at the end
(high addresses). The former allows the system to find
free sectors more quickly, and works best for active par¬
titions and the older TOS versions.
Beckemeyer’s Hard Disk Sentry
The Hard Disk Sentry package consists of two pro¬
grams: a disk surface analysis program (DT.PRG), and
the Sentry program itself (SENTRY.PRG). There’s also
a third program that is supposed to be used with pc
ditto; I won’t be talking about that one.
HARD DISK SENTRY V 1.3
(c) Copyright 1987-1992
Thonas E Zerucha
All Rights Reserved
Exclusively Licensed to
Beckeneyer Developnent
A
□j
1 c
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H
I
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1
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(X)
ICancell I Print I I I
Page 30
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
Disk Surface Analysis
The purpose of this program is to scan the disk for
bad (unusable) clusters. According to the manual, this
program is capable of marking the bad sectors as a tem¬
porary measure in recovery. Neither the disk analyzer
nor Hard Disk Sentry is capable of truly mapping the
bad clusters out. The manual stresses that only your
low-level disk formatter is capable of doing that.
The disk analyzer does take a while to run, since
what it does is read all s(
of them). An option will
perform a non-destruc¬
tive write operation in¬
stead of a simple read.
This consists of reading
a sector, writing it back,
then reading it again to
verify the sector is fully
operational. This can be
dangerous if your sys¬
tem is sick.
The manual is care¬
ful to identify the risks in all the Hard Disk Sentry and
disk analyzer operations, so it’s important to read it
carefully. It’s short~20 pages.
Hard Disk Sentry
The Hard Disk Sentry program performs an exten¬
sive analysis of the directory and EAT (File Allocation
Table). It can identify and attempt to recover “orphan”
files—those which appear as a chain of clusters in the
FAT, but which have no directory entry.
The statistics display reports the results of the FAT
analysis, and the map gives a symbolic representation
of a drive’s contents. The program also gives its recom¬
mendation on whether or not the defragging (optimiza¬
tion) step should be performed. This is a nice feature,
but your judgement can override the program’s recom¬
mendation if you wish.
The (Manual
As mentioned above, the manual is brief but com¬
prehensive, providing adequate instructions and expla¬
nations of program output and operation.
Recommendation
Using this kind of program is a little like going to
the doctor; one hopes the diagnosis is that of robust
health. No errors, no broken files, no files contaminated
by bad sectors, and no recovery needed.
Fortunately, my drive is quite healthy, and I have no
urge to break something in order to find out how well
the recovery features work. Hard Disk Sentry and its
companion analyzer seem to work smoothly and well;
the word from several folks on CompuServe is that it is
reliable. Recommended.
I’d like to stress that Tuneup! has never messed me
up either; but my version may just be a little out of date
and its graphic display for a large partition didn’t look
right. Hence, my move to Hard Disk Sentry.
A Freeware Analyzer
The Beckemeyer folks have released a freeware ver¬
sion of the analysis section of Hard Disk Sentry. This is
not the disk surface ana¬
lyzer; it’s the FAT analysis
and symbolic report part.
It’s not capable of doing
the defragging operation,
but will indicate whether
you need a defragger.
Naturally, the display
includes a plug for Hard
Disk Sentry. If you don’t
already own a defragger,
this program can tell you
whether you need one.
Total FflT clusters
4854
Bad File Endings
0
FflT File Starts
188
Invalid FRT clusters
0
FRT File Ends
188
Chain collisions
*0
Contiguous Clusters
Z667
Non-contiguous Clusters
12
Total Files
188
Orphan Files
0
Total File Clusters
2867
Orphan Decendants
0
Free Clusters
1986
Orphan Clusters
0
Recoverable Clusters
0
Unuseable Clusters
0
Total Errors
0
Unknown Clusters
0
Total Good Files
188
Status display for Uolune C
IContinuel Print
1
ctors on a partition (thousands
Disk Sector Test
Select Drive
m CB a [E [T] [E m m
iTi [Ti rTri iTiiTrinnmm
(c) Copyright 198)
BccKcncycr Development Tools
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September 1992
Current Notes
Page 31
FINDEX V
^aia^“TExt & /2ettieira/ JffyAtem
by Don Elmore
I have Data Manager ST, and
Superbase/2. I’ve even tried dbMan
in a couple of its iterations. But,
which data base program sits on
my “C” Drive and contains those
modest files and records that I ac¬
cess on a fairly regular basis?
Findex V! Why? Well, the main
reason is ease of use. I am able to
enter and save data and actually
find it again when I need it I know
that virtually any of the data base
programs are designed to do that,
and more... but, as Findex’s litera¬
ture says, “Findex V is as compli¬
cated or simple as you want.” It is.
Findex V compares itself with
both “Flat Field” and “Relational”
data base programs, and claims to
approach accessing and managing
information from a totally different
perspective. Findex V calls that per¬
spective Multiple Keyword Logic
(MKL). MKL claims to handle in¬
formation the same way that the
human brain does, e.g. “without
conscious set-up procedures, han¬
dling information in an unformatt¬
ed, disjointed ... UNLIMITED
manner.” Yet, like your brain, with
the simplest reference, you can
find, link and organize what infor¬
mation you want.
Now, when you start talking
about Flat Fields or Relational or
even Non-Relational data bases,
you quickly lose me. And, if 1 had
read the MKL description, 1 admit
that 1 probably would never have
purchased the program. A friend
showed me Findex V, and when I
saw it in action, 1 figured it would
handle all of my data base needs
nicely, thank you, and then some.
The excellent instruction
manual describes Findex V as rang¬
ing from a box of index cards to a
“field-less multi-dimensional, flexi-
form data base.” 1 don’t know
about the latter, but, what you see
when you first enter a record is a
blank screen with a blinking cursor
in the top, left-hand corner. There
are no “fields.”
Findex V does not require
records to be structured identi¬
cally (unless you want them to be).
The screen shows the first 20 lines,
and each record can be scrolled
down through two more screens,
giving a total of 60 lines per
“page.” If you need more for any
record, you can continue on a sec¬
ond “page.” Yet, if you want to es¬
tablish a formatted data entry, say a
mailing list with specific fields;
name, street address, city. State,
etc., you can set up a data entry for¬
mat, as I did in my Xmas card list.
But, since a picture is sup¬
posed to be worth a thousand
words, let’s see if 1 can better ex¬
plain the program by showing
screen dumps of some of my files.
A good example of the “formatted
data entry,” is my Christmas list
file (see figure 1). I have 70 records
in the file and they are entered by
filling in the fields that 1 set up for
the record (figure 2).
Let’s start by examining the
Status HindOH in figure 1. The de¬
fault for the Filenane is Noname,
until you save and name a particu¬
lar file (like 1 did with “xmaslist”).
The Space open line tells you
how much space is available for
records. Initially, 1 had 262,144
bytes available. Everycharacter in a
record uses one byte. 1 have 70
records in the Xmas file and
248,552 bytes remaining.
The Tally line refers to an
arithmetic function. You can tell
Findex V which line to look at and
find a value to add. 1 am not using
this particular function in my
Xmas file.
The Order line (default is 0)
is used when you sort your records.
If 1 were to sort the Xmas file on
the zip codes (line six in figure 2,
the Order Line would indicate 6.
The Case sense line is a
handy tool. It defaults to Yes, mean¬
ing that upper or lower case must
be matched exactly when a search
is made. 1 turn the sensitivity off
so that the case of the letters will
not matter in a search.
The Output Fornat (default is
blank) indicates a specific sequence
in which a record is sent to the
printer, or to a disk. Each file can
have as many as 16 different for¬
mats. As you can see, I have but
one (which 1 named Xmascards).
Why different formats for output?
Well, you might want to print out
the entire file, and then also print
-B4-flug-t952-
FIHOEX INFORMATION ST0RA6E AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM
Enter e search comand... Separate Hulti-Uord comands Hith AND, OR, NOT
UITH, HITHOUT or enter a Connand Option.••
Connand Options:
DEFO Define Output Fornat
SORT Sort File
NNAM Give File NEU None
RST Restart (EMPTY) Database
ADO Add Nen Record
ADD/ Fornatted Data Entry
CHAT Change TALLY Line
TORN Edit TOKEN File
MORE More Connands
For GROUP functions, append the search connand Mithi
\0 GROUP DELETE \T GROUP TALLY \U GROUP URITE(DISK)
\S GROUP STATS \P GROUP PRINT \0 GROUP SERIAL OUT
Connand? | Figure 1.
*** STATUS HINOOU ***
Filenane:xnaslist Aug. 04, 1992
Space open: 248552 Records: 70
Tally line: 1 Current TOP: 1
Order line: 0 Baud: 128B
Case senseino Nth Select; 1
Output Fornat:xnascards
Disk Output Filenane:
Current Active Drive: C:
Page 32
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
TWSVF
Aka:
Street:
City:
State:
Zip:
Country:
Telephone:
-B4-Hug-I99Z-
Info-88:
Info-89:
Inf0-98:
Info-91:
Info-92:
Info-93:
Info-94:
Inf0=95:
Cofwents:
rurr»nt rount! 1
Current Sun!fl
ENTER/Search More
E/Edit Record
Search for: *
Option? 1
N/Neh (Haln Henu)
A/Md NeH Record
R/Restart Search D/Delete Record
C/Copy Record M/Hore Coiwands
Figure 2.
only the name and address fields
(for labels). Yes, Findex V will print
labels if you want it to. Or, you
might want to have one printing of
just the family’s name and the
yearly statistics. So, you can select
up to 16 different ways to print
your file.
The Disk Output Filenane
(default blank) requires that you
name a file before it is printed to a
disk.
The Current Active Drive is
self-explanatory. It shows from
which drive you are loading files
and to which drive you are saving
them. Drives can be changed by
one of the command options.
The date depends on your
computer system. If your computer
can read a date anywhere, Findex V
will display it on the screen as
shown in figure 1. Again, the com¬
mand options can be used to
change the date, should you so de¬
sire.
Records shows the number of
records that you have created in the
file.
Current TOP indicates which
record line will be at the top of the
screen when a record is displayed.
The Baud line is also self-ex¬
planatory. It defaults to 1200 but
can be changed so that transmis¬
sion speed matches the speed of the
receiving computer.
Nth Select allows you to print
only certain records in a file. De¬
fault is 1, but if you want every
third or fifth record printed, you
will have to change the default.
This particular function only
works in the GROUP functions.
There are actually three col¬
umns of command options listed at
the left of the initial screen. You ac¬
cess the other two screens by typ¬
ing MORE (the last command). The
commands are clearly explained in
the instruction manual, and in the
interest of conserving space, I will
not describe them individually, as I
did with the status window.
Now, as for some examples of
my files (how I use Findex V) re¬
member that figure 2 represents a
formatted entry set for my Xmas
card list. Figure 3 shows one of the
records in that file. There is a pow¬
erful search option. If you wish to
simply browse through the file,
type an asterisk and then hit [Re-
you are moved to the next record.
If you want to go directly to a spe¬
cific record, then enter a search
command, as I have done. I typed
“raimundo,” and Findex V went
immediately to the Escallon record.
I could just as easily have typed
“rai,” or “mund” and it would have
done the same. If there are several
records containing your search
string, Findex V will pull them all
up and you cycle through them by
hitting return, until you are advised
that there are no more records fit¬
ting those search parameters.
At the beginning of each
Christmas season, I print out a
complete listing of the entire file.
Than as Christmas cards arrive
(and as we send them out), I note
each “transaction” on the printed
list. Then, after Christmas, 1 key in
that year’s data of cards sent and
received.
Figure 4 is one record in my
“Restaurants” file. On the first Sat¬
urday of each month, some friends
and my wife and I try a different
ethnic restaurant in the Capitol
area. Using the sort command, I
choose the line of the record I want
to sort on and can thereby list the
restaurants by their name, the type
of food, addresses, etc.
Figure 5 is one of 27 records
in my “Skiing” file. The ski area
record tend to be the largest
records that I currently have on
Findex V This file is a good exam¬
ple of a free-form record format. 1
turn]. Each time you hit [Return], update it annually from data
Escallon, Rainundo & Haria T.
18:15:46 PH
Escallon
Transversal 2 »112-23
Bogota 10
Colonbia
1988 Nada
1989 Nada
1998 S X R X
1991 S X R X
1992 S R
1993 S R
1994 S R
1995 S R
Current rount! 1
Current Sun'B
ENTER/Search Hore N/NeH (Nain Henu)
R/Restart Search D/Delete Record
E/Edit Record A/Rdd Nen Record
C/Copy Record H/Hore Connands
Search for: rainundo
Option? 1
Figure 3.
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 33
Dona Flor
Brazilian
4615 4ist St N.H.
Washington DC
18:17:56 m
(262) 537-0484
Date tried: 1 February 1SS2
Cofifients: Good food, great Caipirhinia
Current count! 1
Current
SuniB
CNTER/Search More N/NeM (Main Henu)
E/Edit Record R/Rdd Nen Record
Search for: dona
Option? 1
R/Restart Search
C/Copy Record
D/Delete Record
H/Hore Cowiands
Figure 4.
printed in the Washington Post. By
using Findex V’s extremely power¬
ful search commands, I can tell
Findex V to show all of the ski re¬
sorts/areas that are within 175
miles of my house, that have at
least a SOO’ vertical drop, night ski¬
ing provisions, and with hot tubs
(in the resort hotel). There are
three, by the way.
Using multi-word search com¬
mands gives you the ability to re¬
trieve exactly the information you
want. Suppose you have a large data
base of names and addresses and
you want to be selective in retriev¬
ing some records.
Snith - will find every occur¬
rence of Smith.
Snith AND Portland * will bring
up every record that contains both
Smith and Portland.
Snith HOT Portland - finds every
record containing Smith except
those that contain both Smith and
Portland.
Snith HMD Portland NOT Maine -
finds every Smith from Portland
except those which contain Maine.
Like Portland, Oregon for example.
By adding HITH and HITHOUT,
you can do "position” searching.
For example:
Snith HITH 3=0L - locates
every record containing the word
Smith, but only if it finds OL on
line 3.
The uses for Findex V are only
limited by your own imagination. I
have a recipes file, automobile
maintenance file, etc. As men¬
tioned previously, the instruction
DOE HOUNTAIN, 155 niles Hacungie, PA (Z15) 682-7105 10:15:08 PM
fACILITIES; 500-foot vertical: 10 slopes & trails^ 48X beginner, 40X inter-
nedlate, 20X expert; longest run 4,700 feet, 4 chairs, 2 toMS, 1 T-Bar, Lift
capacity 3,608/ hr. SnoMnaking lOO::. Lighting 100:< slopes S trails.
LIFT tickets: Adults $23 Heekdays, $28 weekends S holidays; $17 nights.
Children 6-10 $13 anytine, under six $3. Group discounts.
SKI SCHOOL: ATS Group lessons, $12 for 1.5 hrs. Private, $38/hr. Organized
groups, $8.58/person; children's group lessons, age 5-10, $11
SERVICES S ACCOHHODATIOHS: Slopeside: cafeteria, bar-restaurant. Snack bar
on nountain top. Motel h/ 16 roons. Ski rpt: (215) 682-7167, 682-7207
DIRECTIONS: 1-55 north to Mllnington, then Route 202 north to Route 100 north
to Hereford, at Junction of Route 25, At junction of 25 and 100, turn left
on the coutry road and go five niles to resort entrance.
_ Current count: 1 _
EHTER/Search More N/NeM (Main Menu)
E/Edit Record A/Add Hew Record
Search for: doe
Option? I
_ Current Sun:0 _
R/Restart Search D/Delete Record
C/Copy Record M/More Connands
Figure 5.
manual is well written and there
are two tutorials that will have you
up and running (literally) in five
minutes. You can print out reports,
there are powerful mail merge
functions, and as mentioned above,
you can also print labels if you so
desire. Oh, by the way, not only is
the manual well written, it is hu¬
morously written. Tom Woods
(writer and editor of the manual)
includes many personal anecdotes
and tips and really helps answer
questions from users like me.
Are there downsides to this
program? Yep. One feature that I
don’t like is that Findex V is not
GEM based. All transactions must
be performed via the keyboard, no
mouse. 1 guess that another down¬
side is the availability of the pro¬
gram. The only place that I have
been able to find it is listed in the
E. Arthur Brown Computer Enthu¬
siast Catalog. It is priced at $49.95
and is, in this writer’s opinion, well
worth it. If you want a relatively
simple data base program, whose
performance is rock solid, 1 recom¬
mend Findex V
The E. Arthur Brown Com¬
pany is located at 3404 Pawnee
Drive, Alexandria, MN 56308. Tele¬
phone (612) 762-8847.
Current Notes ST Library
44 Mb PD/Shareware
Cartridges
The CN Library is also distributed
on 44MB Syquest cartridges. Each
cartridge is filled with PD and
shareware software.
Cart m: #347-#4S9 (Jul ’89-Jun ’90)
Cart #3: lV460-4'554 (Jul ’90-Apr ’91)
Cart #4; $555-41639 (May ’91-Dec ’91)
Cart 4f6:4649-#709 (Feb ’91-Jul ’92)
also available
Cart 42: The Spectre Collection
(4S01-4S80)
Cart 45: DTP (2000-F clip art, fonts, -h)
Order disks from CN Library, 122 N
Johonson Rd, Sterling VA 20164.
MasterCard and VISA accepted
(703) 450-4761.
Page 34
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
Atari Classics on the Way
A^tu/ 8—Hit Hi—monthly M&y&yno ^ot /Jtccti 8—Hit Hitts/
My name is Ben Poehland, and
I’m pleased to announce that I shall
be serving as Managing Editor of
Atari Classics (AC), a new maga¬
zine exclusively devoted to the
Atari 8-bit user.
The philosophical orientation
of AC incorporated in its Mani
fest is to be a magazine “of, by, and
for the Atari 8-bit user.” Unlike
previous 8-bit periodicals, the con¬
tent of AC will directly reflect the
expressed desires of the user com¬
munity, especially as recorded dur¬
ing the Mail-In Campaign con¬
ducted January 15-May 2, 1992.
The magazine will be staffed by
members of the user community,
and its content will be drawn en¬
tirely from the user community.
Unicorn Publications, already
well-known for its outstanding
Atari Interface Magazine, has
agreed to provide publishing serv¬
ices for AC. AC and AIM, however,
will be independent publications,
and the addition of AC to
Unicorn’s stable of products will
not affect ATM’s present subscrib¬
ers.
This will be your magazine.
AC will succeed, or fail, on the
number of subscription orders it re¬
ceives. Although seed money to
print the Premier Issue has been
provided, the magazine will need
500 paid subscriptions to succeed.
A limited production run of 800 is¬
sues is scheduled for October or
November 1992. Most of these will
be distributed free of charge to the
roughly 600 people who sent in
commitment cards during the Mail
Campaign. Of course, there were
some folks who got missed in the
Mail Campaign. So we ordered up
extra copies that will also be dis¬
tributed for free. First come, first
serve! You can write to: Atari Clas¬
sics, 179 Sproul Rd./Rt. 352, Frazer,
PA 19355 USA. ATTN: B. Poeh¬
land, Managing Editor. I will add
your name to the list for a free
copy of the Premier Issue. (No
guarantees, and be sure to include
your postal mailing address!)
The basic subscription fee is
$25/year in the USA, with higher
fees for Canadian and other non-
US subscriptions. Full details on
subscriptions will appear in the
Premier issue. Beginning in 1993
the magazine will be distributed bi¬
monthly (6 issues/year).
A software disk bearing pro¬
grams published in AC plus se¬
lected offerings from the Public
Domain, will be available sepa¬
rately for $9/year in the USA. Full
details on disk subscriptions will
also appear in the Premier Issue.
And, look forward to a whole
bunch of other stuff, contributed
by some of the most talented writ¬
ers and hackers in the Atari 8-bit
world.
B D 10 B Q B B B B B
The HOVERJETSIMULATOR from RHEA-FX
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WHEN YOUR NIGHTMARES BECOME YOUR REALITY,
TRY TELLING YOURSELF... "It's ONLY a Game!"
Also available... new versions and features!
CROSSWORD CREATOR II $ 34.95
WORD SEARCH CREATOR $ 34.95
PUZZLE PACK (includes both above) $49.95
THE CRYPTOGRAPHER $ 34.95
(^‘marvelous little programs... simple and elegant” - Atari Explorer^
Add $2 shipping & handling
Check, money order, MasterCard or Visa
Save money & the Environment! Deduct $2
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Stop by and see us at Glendale & WAACE!
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(505) 662-7236 j
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 35
Making IMeMbs With
Outline Art
by David Barkin
What gives? All my books on desktop publishing
tell me that the out putting of smooth fountains is not
possible with a laser printer, yet here I am turning out
incredibly complex designs whose heart lies in perfect
gray scale fountains. A gray scale fountain, by the way,
is the smooth transition between black to white (or a
percentage of Black to white) from within a defined
shape. My books even give me examples showing that
at 300 DPI fountains are heavily banded. One has to go
up to 1200 or even better 2400 DPI to eliminate this
banding. Is my printer that good? The answer is em¬
bedded in that rather strange, complex, incomplete,
buggy wonder of the Atari ST, Outline Art by ISD.
One hopes that the reader is more or less familiar with
the many conventional features of Outline, because
like last month’s tutorial, this is taken for granted.
This wonderful program’s greatest limitation is
the exclusiveness of its output files, which left its use
more or less limited to the owners of Calamus, but
this is no longer the case. Arabesque Professional,
among other programs, can now load and or output
.CVG files, which is the native export format of Out¬
line. Although the internal format of Outline is .OL it
also easily imports its own .CVG files as well. This
means that anything created in Outline can not only
be imported into other Atari programs but can be
used on other computer platforms. This is aside from
the fact that Outline also comes with a separate con¬
version program to transform its .CVG flies into EPS
and PS standards. This tutorial is going to explain how
to use those powerful features of Outline, which nei¬
ther the manual nor ISDs own “Guide to Desktop
Publishing” go into.
One day my Postscript programming friend,
Gregg, came over to my house to show me some of
his creations from within Postscript (in this case Ul¬
trascript, the Atari Postscript clone). To my surprise
and education, here were drawings created by a pro¬
gramming language itself. They were beautiful.
Smooth, grayscales in odd shapes, spiral patterns, all
sorts of odd and beautiful creations. These were pre¬
sented to me as Gregg’s subtle attempt to get me to
take up the process of learning Postscript. He knew
about my fascination with Outline and he showed me
these concqitions because he knew they couldn’t be
done in Outline!
Well this was a challenge that could not be ig¬
nored. Almost certainly I would lose; but nonetheless I
would accept. I’ve accepted many such challenges and
more often then not would eventually accept failure.
The attempt to add a monitor to my calculator, the in¬
stallation of a hard drive in my 67 Dart, the fiasco of
upgrading my dogs memory past the 128K barrier. An
act by the way, whose consequences, I among others
feel to this day. I was used to failure, but, in this one
case, I succeeded with a vengeance.
Up until then my idea of using Outline for the cre¬
ation of grayscales was to use the grayscale icon and
simply draw the usual rectangle, define the percentage
of black to gray and, if necessary, use the control grid
option to force the grayscale into a particular shape.
The problems with this approach were twofold. One,
it’s difficult and cumbersome to create a control path
to handle these grayscales and, two, they didn’t print
out that smooth anyway. I had been using this icon,
following the manual’s recommendation to get a me-
In figure 1 is the provorbial starting part, which, by figure 2,
is transformed into my first fountain.
tallic effect by placing the grayscales behind other ob¬
jects which were invisible except for portions cut out
to allow the gray to show. This is great for metallic let¬
tering and other effects but it didn’t come close to
matching Gregg’s designs.
What to do? The calculator! Yes, 1 would use the
calculator to copy the grayscales after putting them
onto a control grid. After creating a very rough look¬
ing circle out of my grayscale, I told the calculator, to
reduce the selected points (in this case “all points”) by
10 percent. Then, going to the “clipboard special op¬
tions menu,” I set the “change grayscale option” to -5
percent (to set a minus value you must backspace to
the end and then type in the minus sign followed by
the value). The result looks like a pile of melting cir¬
cles of ice-cream or soggy doughnuts. Interesting, but
no cigar. But I was on the right track.
Page 36
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 37
In figures 1 and 2 we have the first success. I sim¬
ply created a black square, no outline, and setting the
calculator to reduce the object by percentage, 97 per-
the multiple copy options.
cent, horizontally and vertically. Then, using the clip¬
board extra functions and setting the grayscale change
to -3 percent, I hit the copy icon and, presto, figure 2.
But this, as it turns out, is the tip of the iceberg. Before
continuing lets take the creation of figure 2 step by
step because all the other effects depend on this.
1) Create a square using the “create object path”
option and in the dialogue box set the gray value to
100 percent and no line.
2) Set the clipboard special effects dialogue box as
is shown in figure 3. The impor¬
tant part of this dialogue box
are the settings next to the cam¬
era icon, the other options we
can ignore except you should
also set “Prompt « of copies”
and “Extra functions active” to
on.
3) Next, go to the calcula¬
tor (figure 4.). In this case, don’t
use the option of “All Points”
since we are only working with
one object. The default setting is
selected points. Click on the
“Enlarge %,” then go up to the
dialogue and type in 97 percent
for both vertical and horizontal.
At this point select “Object Mid-
dl.” Hit Cancel, not Calculate.
This is because the clipboard extra functions is linked
internally to the calculator and follows the instruc¬
tions of the calculator according to how you set it up.
If you hit Calculate, the calculator will act at once on
the selected points.
4) Finally, go to the copy icon and, at the prompt,
type in 33 for the number of copies. After a brief cal¬
culation, presto! As a last action, I changed the last
object to 0 percent gray value.
Now the fun part begins, because the possibilities
are endless. What if instead of typing in 33 for multi¬
ple copies, you hit IS and then in the calculator
change from object middle to object up and to the
right, then hit 18 for multiple copy? What if you
change the horizontal to 95 while leaving vertical
alone? What if you change the gray scale value?
What about after making your first object, you go
back and change grayscale to -+-3? How about chang¬
ing a piece of text to a vector object and doing this
process on it? If an irregular shape, how about taking
a break from the copy aspect and rotate the object a
few degrees and resume copying? In the large
illustration on page 37, you will find my answer to
my friend Greggs postscript art. None of these ob¬
jects took more than five minutes to create once I got
the hang of it. I even included by pile of soggy
shapes.
Before I leave you this month, I just would like to
give a few pointers and warnings. This version of
Outline is limited to lOOK. These multiple copy ob¬
jects eat memory like you wouldn’t believe. This is
partially dependant on the number of points in each
object. Furthermore, once you get up to 50 layers, be¬
lieve me, you don’t want to go back and start hunting
to change just one layer. It’s much easier to reload
one of your previously saved versions and start over.
ENLARGE X
'= D+(X-0)*fl/10a
E+(Y-E)»B/1O0_
Hidth Z = 97_
Height x = 97 ,
BJECT|^tCDC
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Constant X= HagelX.
Constant Y= NagelY
CB^'ECT
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NPCiffl X^NNC<« l V •« PIN PC>9-J'riC<N
MINIMUN PCi^f*fIC<N
MNXX^KPlXV ItfOlMUH PC<!:j'(JC«4
4 - M ✓ ,C»l2.‘-:4 -4 OTHrit rCAHUtiNff I lirCNTS:!
I > PI civg-i*
Figure 4 . The calculator and some of the settings used to create figure 2.
Page 38
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
Celebrate
Montreal's 350th
Anniversary!
1 c
Wi
4 ^
[q
A
September 19-20,1992 «
Sat. & Sun.. 10 A.M. to 5 RM.
at the Monkland Centre, in N.D.G.
4410 West Hill Avenue
Montreal. Quebec. Canada
Door Prizes. Product Demos. Music. DTP and Full. 8/16/32-Bit Coverage!
ADMISSION; $4.00/day. Children, under age 12. admitted free.
FAME is a joint effort of 3 Montreal-area users’ groups:
ASTMUM • MACAM • MAST
•
O
S
For Exhibitor/Visitor
Info-Kits, write:
FAME '92 INFO
c/o K. Carter-Morgan
R O. Box 966. Stn. B
Montreal. PQ Canada
H3B 3K5
Voice Lines;
Kest(514)
272-6631
Terry (514)
696-3773
Taxis must enter West Hill from Monkland Ave.
MUC Transit directions are: Obtain a free bus
transfer, from machine in the Metro station, at
origin of trip. From Villa-Maria Metro, take the
“162 bus west, to Madison, and walk (continue
west) 1 block to West Hill. Turn right and walk
to back of circle for entrance. You’ve made it!
Hotels and other
accomodations
are convenient¬
ly close to our
festival.
Please
join us.
Also Outline starts to slow down once you reach about
50K. The solution is as follows. When an .OL file is
saved, when recalled or merged, it returns to the exact
same spot it was saved from. Also, no matter how
complex when recalled, it comes back with all points
selected.
Plan your design ahead. Save often, giving your
objects clear names so that you don’t get confused. If
files really get out of hand (see page 37), then save
them separately and reassemble them in your publish¬
ing program.
One little note here is that Calamus 1.09N has a
minor bug where .CVG files appear to be transparent
but they are actually opaque and print out opaque.
Don’t let this confuse you. SL fixes this tittle bug.
Two last observations. My printer is the HP 111 and
I’m quite pleased with the output, but my old printer
was the HP Desk-Jet and the results were much better!
Probably because the real ink of the Desk-Jet smears
just enough to make each fountain perfect. Besides
that, with the Desk Jet the images seemed to glow.
For best results set the Calamus printer dialogue
to “Raster x 1.” The other point is that Calamus SCs
vector module fixes two of Outlines main weaknesses,
the inability to set each line to a different weight and
the inability to group frames together.
Next month, we will explore shortening the learn¬
ing curve in Calamus and Calamus SL. Personally, I’m
tired of hearing about how confusing the icon inter¬
face of Calamus is. The primary fault for this miscon¬
ception lies with ISD themselves for not explaining
that the icons are simply a learning aid. Both beginn¬
ers and perhaps some long-term users will be pleas¬
antly surprised.
In case anyone is wondering whether the author of
this article is suffering from delusions of grandeur -
The answer is yes! Outline Touche was created both to
impress my friend Gregg and to win the Outline Art
Contest. It has since then been pointed out to me on
occasions too numerous to mention that the above
drawing is just magnificent, but is it Art? Since I did¬
n’t win the contest, not even an honorary mention I
am forced to conclude that the judges were heavily
bribed by the unscrupulous competition. They will be
hearing from my attorney.
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 39
Um WAACE
7 Come Sse the Nation's Largest Atari Deatoi*!
Don’t be daunted by the drive to
Washington! We really want you
to come to the WAACE Atarifest
on October 10 and 11! And to
prove it, we’re promising to make
it worthwhile!
You see, this summer, we went
from being “Toad Computers:
Atari Store and Friendly Place’’ to
being ‘Toad Computers: The Atari
Superstore (and friendly place)!”
How did this happen? Little
green pills? A princess kissed our
old store? No - it came with lots of
hard work.
To show that we’re using our
new-found powers only for the
forces of good, we’re holding what
we caU “'Hie F^t before The Fest”
“What is this beast?,” I hear you
mumble. Well, it’s a time when
Atari users can visit the country’s
largest Atari dealer, take advantage
of a vast pre-fest selection (at
Atarifest prices), and participate in
classes, seminars (even one with
Dave Small), and dem<xistrations.
And you get to see a real,
modern, tangible and palpable
Atari store. And not just an Atari
store - an Atari Superstore. That
means huge selection, the best
prices and outstanding service -
every time you visit
So on Thursday October 8 and
on Friday October 9, be at Toad
Computers’ new location at 570F
Ritchie Highway in scenic Sevema
Park, Maryland. Admissicm is free.
We’re not far firom anywhere, and
we promise you, it’ll be well worth
your time.
Check the directions below, and
if you have any questions, feel free
to call!
Directions to The Nation's First and Only Atari Superstore
From Baltimore (25-35
minutes): Take 1-695
(Baltimore Beltway) south
to MD 10. Take MD 10
south to MD 2 south. After
about three miles and very
shortly after intersection
with MD 648, turn right into
Park Plaza shopping center.
We’re next to WeeCare.
From Annapolis (10-15
minutes): Take US 50 east
towards Bay Bridge, over
Severn River bridge.
Immediately (!) after Severn
River bridge, exit onto MD 2
north. After about 6 miles,
turn left at light at McKinsey
Rd. Turn right immediately
into Park Plaza center.
From Washington DC, MD
Suburbs, Northern VA (40 -
60 minutes): Get to east side
of Capital Beltway. Take US
50 east to Annapolis. Follow
directions from Annapolis.
If you need further
directions, feel free to call
and act confused.
Meet
Dave Small,
Tim Reyes,
and
Tom Harker!
Way Cool!
Where: Toad Computers
570F Ritchie Highway
Severna Park, MD 21146
When: Thursday, October 8,1992
8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Friday, October 9,1992
8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Where: Sheraton Inn
Reston,VA 22091
When: Saturday, October 10,1992
Sunday, ^tober 11,1992
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (both days)
CaU: (703) 629-6734, Charles Hoffmann
PRODUCTIVITY • PRODUCTIVITY • PRODUCTIVITY • PRODUCTIVITY • PRODUCTIVITY • PRODUCTIVITY • PRODUCTIVITY • PRODUCTIVITY • PRODUCTIVITY
PageStream 22
PagaStraam OMidorms
PagaAsstetarrt Helper
PagaStraam Plus Pack
Cabmus1.09N
CalarTHisSL
Catamus Outline Art
Calamus Font Editor
Calamus Guide to DTP
Calamus Font Guide
CalAssIftant (Helper)
$179
$28
$39
$59
$119
$599
$159
$59
$31
$24
$29
Timaworfcs Publisher 2
UHraScriptST
Com poScf Ipt (NEWI)
Fontvartar
Font Designer Plus
Font Designer
Genus Font Edhor
SUhouatte (Newest Ver.)
Arabesque Prolessionai
Convector Prolessional
image Cat
$139
$109
$279
$34
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$89
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$89
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$99
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DTPaInt Accessory
Avant Vector
MegaPaint Prolessionai
Retouche
DIdolUneAd
Pilntmasler Plus
Gn«)hlcUbrary1&2
Awardmaker
Word Search Creator
First Graph
Word Quest II
$39
$479
$159
$169
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$39
$29
$34
$19
$69
$29
MVG Graphics Viewer
IIVGModiies1/2
Mgrai^ OCR Software
liugSnot
$39
$22
$189
$29
liugShotDa!aDi8k1or2 $29
Logo library
G ban (New Version)
Tfars Write
Writs On
WordFWrll
WordPerfect ST
$29
$39
$149
$149
WP Switch
WofdUp (Version 3)
Turttojet
TheRedactaur3
Ultimats Virus Kiier
1st Word Plus (Ver. 32)
CaMgrapher Light
C^lgrapherGoid
Steno 2 (Acc^soiy Edhor)
EdHak (Accessory Edtor)
Suddenview Student
$24
$59
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$25
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$19
$109
GramStam
Grammar Expert
AbbrevlatorST
LOW Power
Tamplldty LOW Templates $28
30 Calc (Mchtron) $39
Megacheck Financial $39
Phaser 4.0 $59
TaxWizard $39
Cardfile3
rPro
$29
$89
Tracker ST
DeMsi)v5.3
Warp 9 Accelerator
Codehead Utilities
Maxiflie3
G^Ptus
Looldt&PopIt
Multidesk Deluxe
Codskeys Macros
Hotwire Plus
Mailing Manager ST
$69
$154
$39
$24
$24
$24
$24
$39
$29
$46
$39
THE LINK"' MEANS TRUE SCSI!
ICD. Inc.’s latest entry into the
Atari marke^lace is The Link, a
SCSI host adapter with a distinct
advantage. It's ext^nal
The Link will allow the use of all
external SCSI disk systems,
including CD-ROM units.
Floptical drives, and all hard
drive systems made for the Atari
Falcon and TT030. It converts
ACSI 10 true SCSI.
We at Toad Computers saw the
impoftr^ of bringing you th^
revolutionary products first - at
prices that can make you the first
to own them!
At the DUsseldorf Atari Messe,
the world’s largest Atari show,
we introduced our Stealth hard
drive subsystems. T hey ’re
designed with the Fakon, Tt030,
Macintosh (and The Link) in
mind. Stealth is small, black,
portable, and sexy. You’ll sec
much more about them very
shotiy.
The Unk, combined with our
Stealth, CD-ROM, and Floptical
Have Some Fun!
syste^. gives the ST/STE a new
in mass storage.
The Atari TT030 and Falcon
need no interface to use these
drives (because they have a true
SCSI port), but now every SCSI
drive can be used on any Atari
Computer.
Check out our great new deals on
CD-ROM, flt^cal, and Stea^
drive systems - get one while
they’re hot! Or, get a Link and
become well-connected! Either
way, you’ll k>vc the new options!
Hardware!
THE LINK^
INTRODUaORY OFFER
JUST $89.99
Gtgd fat a tiiM fro - Void Mim lYoMaMil
CD-ROM
SIEAUIL
Ihe sleekest, smoilest, im^-monitor hard
diive system. Rxi onl veiy sophistKotei
TT030, Falcon, Moc compotible. LINK
required for ST, SIE. Avoilable in October.
Fnce you order now. $ 119.99
ChinonCDS431
S(5ICM0M, Audio Drive $489
iMmd sysMR b «iA powv
Font FunHouse CD4(0M $49
CodaiK HuMnds fli Type (hi Fene f«
Ate imlvdB AecinSosh
$599
IUMC, OHOM ()ite, Fori hid^
TK UM a leewd te «n M ST« SR (orepriifs.
TTD30 & Fricm VMS emy iM diM vdiiorilM.
SydMB CM WA IN fni CD's, rc lied odoidri i (ables.
Complete ST Pockoge
lnduteMUMCCDIQMtMN.nl Fa
FiOPTICAt
Insite Petipherols I325VM
21M8Flopticol Drive $599
Inds 72 (X (te 1 . 44 AA 8 flopfite I# m
Coodte aitiiid syriim n ome vrih poww
idS^THElMadudad.
21MB Diskette $35
M) ngulorta 3.S'te « W up k 2IM aUdr I
OMpR |w nega^ An 44M iwnoMfalil
NEW MASS CTORAGE
POSSIBILITIES
MicropfoseGolf $49
Knightmare $42
Ishar $45
Dtsdples of Steel $39
Lemmings $33
Add More Lemmings $28
A320AirtxjsNOWr $47
Ultima VI $46
SpaK»Shuttte $45
Turtles II $37
Knights of the Sky $45
Populous 1MB $42
BatlJeChess $41
Hoyle’s Bk of Games $19
Bookof(3ames2 $19
Formula 1 Grand Prix $41
The Black Cauldron $19
STOS $39
STOS Compiler $29
STOS 3D $41
KIDSTliffl
Under 10 Years Young:
Funschool2 $29
Funschool3or4 $39
(Specify ChM’!
Kidpubk^Pro
sAge)
dPainter
Telegram
For Kids of All Ages;
ADI Math (11-14)
ADI English (11-14)
ADI French (12-14)
Pepe's Garden
Magic Storybook
(aeneral Store
The Black Cauldron
Math Blaster
$29
$19
$29
$19
Call
Call
Call
$39
$41
$19
$19
$25
Portloto Products _
Portfolio Computer $239
Serial Interface $59
Parallel Interface $39
64KFlAMCafd $69
32KRAMCard $59
128K RAM Card $159
Portfolio Book $14
AC Adapter
Terminal Plus
Hyperlist
Power Basic
Instant Speller
Chess
FunHatdwNie
$10
$39
$49
$89
$39
$49
Modems & Related Items,
Migraph Scanner $249
WizwofksTRAYl $59
Migraph TRAY! $119
Img. Scanner $199
ai.720K Drive $149
DVT VCR
JRI SIMM Board
Alpha Data Clock
SiTime
DMASwitehbox
DMA Cable (3')
DMA Cable (41
PC Speed (ST€)
ATSpeed386
$69
$109
$49
$49
$59
$29
$49
GPA Basic
Hyperlink
Esteem Pilot
Hisoft Power Basic
LaserC
LaserCDebug
Mark Williams C
Lattice Cv.5
Personal Pascal
Hi-Speed Pascal
Dev^ST
DevpacTT
Assempro
Books on the Beach!
Atari ST Book (#1)
$109
$69
$59
$99
$49
$99
$189
$79
$139
$59
$179
$59
$14
Atari ST Subjects (#2) $14
Atari Advanced (#3) $14
C-ManshipComiplete $29
Assembly Language $29
GFA Basic Gu^ $3
Basic to C $18
Laser Supplies
SLM804TONHU
JUST $891
SLM804DRUM!
JUST $1541
SLM605TONBU
JUST $29!
SLM605DRUM!
JUST $1291
Toad Multisync
SPECIAL'Only
$449 WITH
SwItcMbox!
Supra V.32 FAX
Supra v.32bis FAX
Su^ 2400 Plus
Supra 2400 FAX
Straight FAX! SW
Fl<ehTwo
iStealth
Stalkers
G.I.M.E. Terminal
ControtiMS
$269
$329
$149
$149
$69
$39
$29
$37
$29
Prism Tablet $149
AtfaDataMouse $36
Alfa Data Optical $49
Alfa Data Trackball $52
Alfa Cool Trackball $69
(^. img. Mouse $45
Qdti. Img. Optical $69
Brush Mouse $79
Cordless Trackball $94
Ki^ Trackball $59
WKX)BatHandle $22
Wico3-Way $25
WicoErgo^ $16
Gravis Advanced $36
Atari Standard Stick $8
BeetieMouse $39
Comes In Great Colors!
Even the American Flag!
$549
$59
Switchbox $39
SLM804Refufb $579
SLM605NEW! $1049
HP DeskJet 500C $729
Star SJ4d 360dpi $299
$21
$199
$229
$149
$139
Finally! A True High Density Solution!
^ Now owners of 520/1040STE computers can enjoy the benefits of a high density disk drive
without the hassles of upgrade boards that don’t work, cutting your case to fit some off-brand drive,
and incompatibility with emulators. Our upgrade uses an Epson 1.44MB drive (the same one Atari
uses in the Mega STE and TT030) to match your case beautifully. And it’s guaranteed to be 100%
compatible with all upgrades, emulators (including Spectre GCR) and software! Send your machine
in toaday. (Include a note explaining payment and return address.)
• Toaa-DaMtty 1.44MB Upgpadi (hstalMl) $17«
• InciHing TOS 2.06 (OptlOMl iMtaM) $22«
Toad TT 32MB SIMM Board - $399!
jST
AdSpeedSTE
Mega STE 1.44
n0301.44ICl
Quantum LF*S52 $269
Maxtor LF>S130 $399
Quantum Pro240 $699
Maxtor 130MB $389
Maxtor 213MB
SQSSSCail
SQSIKVCan
SQ400 Carts
SQ800 Carts
720KTeacOSOD $85
1.44MB Teac HD $90
Floppy Drive Cable $15
Har d Drive A «ki!«nitea
CDAdSCSk $99
ICDAdSCSI $89
■CD AdSCSI Micro $89
Get Cool Deals From Toad!
r (800) 448-TOAD
$659
$449
$699
$75
$119
(Please Use for Orders Only! Thank You!)
Toad Computers
570F Governor Ritchie Highway
Severna Park. MD 21146 (410) 544-6943 Info
MD Residents Add 5% Sales Tax (410) 544-1329 FAX
Caff OP Write for Our 56 Page Catalog!
Come to ttie' Fest Before The Fest!" We're expectins you'
Connecting Your
Classic
School’s in Session
I’m typing this in Los Angeles, the recent capital
for epicenters and burned out shopping centers. By the
time you read this column, however. I’ll be in Alaba¬
ma at a ten-month Air Force intermediate service
school. This summer, I moved my family to the Los
Angeles area in anticipation of a follow-on assignment
here. (My wife is pregnant with twins which are due
shortly. Two moves in a ten month period with tiny
babies or babies to be would be an even greater bur¬
den.) Most of next month’s column will be prepared
in Colorado Springs. Nothing like a roving reporter.
How Can I Do This?
With my ever-so-portable 130XE. The key is that
I don’t need to carry around a special monitor. I just
plug into the nearest television set and I’m ready to
rock ’n’ roll. The computer, MIO, hard drive and mo¬
dem also fit nicely amongst my clothes in the suitcase.
Let’s see an MS-DOS person try that! I also stay con¬
nected through my modem on the various telecommu¬
nications services to get the latest poop and to stay on
top of things.
Anyway, my new address is at the end of the col¬
umn and any mail sent to the old addresses (Colorado
Springs or Los Angeles) will catch up with me. You
can always find me on GEnie or CompuServe.
Elsewhere in This Issue
This month, a new face, Paul Summit, joins us
with an informative article on video and film produc¬
tion planning using your 8-bit teamed with SynCalc.
Paul knows what he is talking about. Paul bought his
first Atari in 1985. He is currently the instructor of
broadcasting at Lincoln University in Jefferson City,
Missouri. Paul began working in broadcast television
in 1974 and has worked in both commercial and non¬
commercial television. He holds a masters degree in
mass communications from Arkansas State and has
presented numerous professional papers on the media
business. Paul is a CompuServe regular.
Paul’s Syncalc article has motivated me to com¬
plete my latest Syncalc project, which calculates capital
gains on multiple sales using first in/first out basis.
Finally, Charles Cole (who must own stock in
Computer Software Services) gives us an excellent
overview of the Ultra Speed Plus Operating System.
Coming Attractions
Here is a peek at what’s ahead in terms of 8-bit
coverage in CN. I still have a few articles left over
from the previous editor. A number of projects are still
in work or under negotiation. I need writers to volun¬
teer for a couple of proposed articles or come up with
their own ideas.
Backlog Yet to Be Published:
Quintopus
3 1/2” Drive Upgrade
Disk Base
Data Perfect
In Work or Under Negotiation:
TurboBasic Kit
SpartaDOS Menu Help
Mission Shark
FRED
Disk Library Programs
Digi-Studio
Capital Gains Template
8-bit Model Railroading
8-bit Overseas Market
The Internet
8-bit Security System
Volunteer(s) Needed:
Ansi Terminal Program
130 XE Keyboard Replacement
GEnie/CompuServe Comparison
Usenet
Topic of your personal choice
^Special Assignments from the Editor*
If you are interested in writing for Current Notes,
please contact me at the mail or E-mail address at the
end of this column. We’re always looking for a few
good writers and reviewers.
SpartaDOS X Cartridge Dialog
Jeff McWilliams* sent me note on CompuServe
from the Internet in response to Charles Cole’s Sparta¬
DOS X cartridge article in the June 92 issue of CN,
Charles Cole
Charles Cole
Charles Cole
Chris McCoy
Chuck McBride
John Sandgren
Roger Meston
Roger Meston
Roger Meston
Rick Reaser
Rick Reaser
Decker McAllister
Steve Hoffee
Oscar Fowler
Damond Walker
Page 42
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
“Solving the SpartaDOS X Incompatibility Hassle--
Adding On/Off Toggle switches to the SpartaDOS X
Cartridge.” I relayed Jeff’s thoughts to Charles on GE-
nie and after a few iterations, here is a digest of the di*
alog which spanned three information services.
Jeff proposed an alternative to the modification.
While in the SpartaDOS X (SDX) environment, you
can type in the COLD /CN command with the Atari-
Writer Plus disk in the boot drive. This will allow
AtariWrher Plus to boot without SDX getting in the
way. When you want to get back to SDX, do a cold
start with a disk in the boot drive that has X32D.DOS,
CONFIG.SYS, XON.COM and your related support
files for SDX on it. SpartaDOS 3.2D will come up be¬
cause the SDX cartridge is still turned off. Run
XON.COM from the command line and the system
will reboot with the SDX cartridge turned on.
Charles responds that Jeff’s route will work just
fine, but points out that his own cure eliminates all of
the disk swapping and additional command typing.
His aim was to come up with a cure-all for all pro¬
grams that are incompatible with the SDX, not just
AtariWrher Plus, “Why do all that disk swapping
when you can just flip two toggle switches?”
FidoNet
I have received a number of requests for the near¬
est FidoNet node. As of this writing. I’ve answered all
the requests I’ve received so far, be it by regular mail,
GEnie, CompuServe or the Internet. Be sure to include
your area code with your request. 1 don’t know how
many ST owners read this column, but I’m willing to
find the Nodes in their area codes as well.
Some of you are probably wondering how 1 get the
lists of Bulletin Board System (BBSs) or Nodes that
support FidoNet. James Young, who runs the 221B
Baker Street BBS in Panama City, FL has been helping
me out with that. 1 came across James while trying to
track down the FidoNet Atari 8-bit Echo Moderator.
James doesn’t own an Atari, but carries the echo on
his BBS. Anyway, Jim has an on-line search program
that can search through the 3-4 Megs (!) of FidoNet
Node List that I use to put together the list 1 send to re¬
questors. Thanks to James for all his support James
also helped me locate my local FidoNet nodes while
I’m here in Southern California. Now I’ve found a lo¬
cal BBS with essentially the same capability. Just to
impress you with numbers. There are 46 BBSs here in
the South Bay, within my toll free calling radius, that
support FidoNet. FidoNet is BIG!
Larry Black, also in Panama City, FL is the Atari
8-bit Echo Moderator. Larry runs the BEJUE BBS (Fi¬
doNet Node 1:3208/121) on an IBM PC (in 40 col¬
umns, of course). Larry’s only phone is hooked to his
BBS, so 1 learned quickly that the only way to get to
him was through computer. He still loves Atari and
reading the 8-bit echo. When the FidoNet Echo gurus
were considering shutting down the echo last year,
Larry stepped in and volunteered to be the moderator.
As moderator, Larry makes sure that things stay
“clean” and such. He also provides the echo rules to
the Echo List Moderator as well as the current paths
and supporting nodes.
Larry informs me that there are only 13 nodes or
BBSs that carry the 8-bit echo. The echo is officially
called the “Atari Echo.” There is also an “Atari ST
Echo,” which broke off when the ST was introduced.
Larry is compiling a list of the BBSs that carry the 8-
bit echo followed by the current node path so you can
help your local FidoNet SysOp figure a way to connect
to the echo. This will be in the October CN.
To get the Atari 8-bit echo on your local FidoNet
Node, you need to convince the SysOp to carry it. The
echo should be available at all FidoNet Hubs, since
they are normally part of the FidoNet backbone,
which carries all FidoNet message traffic. It may also
be possible to get the SysOp to hook into the current
path. My local Atari user group BBS in Colorado
Springs had no problem getting the echo into our BBS,
which was run on an ST.
Internct/Usenet
Much of the following information was derived
from the “Frequently Asked Questions” file on Usenet
maintained by Michael Current.
Usenet is another one of those computer networks
where subscribers can send messages and files to each
other. Usenet supports many “newsgroups” for sub¬
scribers with common interests and problems. A news-
group is similar to a message base on your local BBS.
We Atari Classic owners have our own Usenet news-
group called comp.sys.atari.8bit. The Usenet
comp.sys.atari.8bit newsgroup is dedicated to the free
exchange of information pertaining to the 8-bit Atari
computers: the 400, 800, 1200XL, 600XL, 800XL,
65XE, 130XE, and the XE Game System. Users of
Atari TT, STe, ST, Portfolio, Lynx, 7800, 2600, or
5200 have their own newsgroups on Usenet.
You have been hearing me refer in recent issues to
the lnfo-Atari8 Digest The Info-Atari8 Digest consists
of postings to comp.sys.atari.8bit collected and e-
mailed to subscribers on the Internet who do not have
access to Usenet These digests are normally put on
GEnie and CompuServe as well.
The Internet also has its own files library called
the atari.archive which Internet subscribers can access
and download from using a File Transfer Protocol or
FTP It is physically located at the University of Michi¬
gan and internet address is atari.archive.umich.edu.
[See also “Atari Archives at the University of Michi¬
gan,” by Jeff Weiner, Current Notes, March 1992. --
JW]
As I said in an earlier column, it is possible to
send e-mail to these Internet people through Com-
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 43
puServe by prefacing the address with “>INTERNErr”.
This way you can “answer” some of the messages that
are part of the Info-Atari8 Digest.
We hope to have a feature article here soon on the
Internet to give you more details. Now we need to find
someone to write about Usenet.
Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG
On July 20, the Central Atari Information Net¬
work (CAIN) introduced an expanded Atari 8-bit com¬
puter support area in their new and improved Cleve¬
land Free-Net Atari SIG. This Atari SIG is actually a
computer based, on-line information system. It also
supports all Atari platforms, so this may be of interest
to ST, Portfolio and Lynx owners.
With respect to Atari 8-bits, the SIG provides a
number of unique features, including a Frequently-
Asked Questions (FAQ) list, 8-Bit news and program¬
ming forum. The programming forum includes a re¬
source center where you will find code samples, help¬
ful hints, and the best PD development tools info;
product summaries; product reviews; tips and tricks;
lnfo-Atari8 Digest archive; and Z*Magazine archive.
Message Areas and a large file area are also a part of
the SIG. The file area is connected to the Internet’s
Atari Archive, located at the University of Michigan.
The Atari SIG also periodically takes advantage of the
Free-Net’s conferencing ability to hold real-time, on¬
line Atari conferences. In addition, the Cleveland Free-
Net provides Internet mail access, plus full access to
Usenet, including the newsgroup comp.sys.atari.8bit.
The Cleveland Free-Net is the primary system in
the ever-expanding NPTN, the National Public Tele¬
computing Network. To access the Cleveland Free-Net
call:
(216) 368-3888
300/1200/2400 bps
Or from the Internet,
telnet freenet-in-b.cwru.edu
(129.22.8.75)
When connected, you may either browse the sys¬
tem, or you may apply for your Cleveland Free-Net ac¬
count. Application is easy, and of course it’s free! Fi¬
nally, type “go atari”!!!
For more information on the Cleveland Free-Net
Atari SIG, contact:
The Atari SIG
m Box 364
Mentor, OH 44061
Internet users can use the Internet address:
xx004-cleveland.freenet.edu
What’s New on GEnic?
There has been a lot of activity in the GEnie li¬
braries since I last wrote. One of the SysOps, Chuck
Steinman (DATAQUEl), has started to post ATASCII
versions of “Atari Explorer Online” for those inter¬
ested. There is nothing really of 8-bit interest in those
files. There is a lot of general Atari Corp stuff, but I
just read Frank Sommer’s “ST Update” and the other
coverage elsewhere here in CN for that. If you are a
Trekkie, however, there is an excellent column by Wal¬
ter K. Wilbury entitled, “Star-Trek: Deep Space Nine.”
Apparently, this is the follow-on to “Star-Trek: The
Next Generation” and will premier in January 1993.
Lot’s of good poop in here, if you’re into that stuff.
See file 05940, AEO9209ARC.
IBILLIG has posted a number of common games
that some of you may or may not have seen on the
Atari. My kids have been enjoying the monster con¬
centration game for the past few days. ANIMATSURI
continues to provide numerous pictures in numerous
formats for us to view. There are a couple of files re¬
lated to the Antic Sampling Processor now on line.
Ray Wilmott has cross-posted his updated Atari 8-bit
sources list to GEnie. A sample edition of the OI’
Hackers Atari User Group newsletter is also available.
If you haven’t seen this disk-based publication, it is
quite clever and well-done.
Another new thing I’ve noticed on GEnie is that
the command “BYE” now works while you are in the
Mail Command mode and when you are in the Bulle¬
tin Board areas. Something that isn’t new is the last
Roundtable News from the SysOps. The last item is
dated October 19,1991!!
What’s New on CompuServe?
The bulk of new files on CompuServe (CIS) are
primary cross-posts of the Info-Atari8 Digests from
the Internet These digests haven’t been posted to GE¬
nie for quite sometime. BTW, a useful project for
someone would be to digest the Digests. If you ever
fall behind, it gets to be a lot of reading. There is a file
on how to run your 8-bit from your car battery (Li¬
brary 17,Title: X12VDC.ARC). The best thing is an
ANSI graphics terminal program for your Atari 8-bit,
called AnsiTerm. It’s in Library 2, and named AN-
SIT1.ARC.
AnsiTerm was written by Robert Sinclair. This
new version now supports SpartaDOS 3.2 and now has
the X-Modem protocol. In the docs, Robert bemoans
the fact that only five people actually registered the
previous version of the program for $15. Come on,
people! I did a brief test of the program and it really
works! ANSI Graphics are provi^d by many BBSs. If
you ever wondered what you are missing, try this pro¬
gram. It displays in color 80 columns, which may be
difficult for some to read. All in all, it is pretty neat
Now, who wants to write a formal review of this pro¬
gram? Please contact me.
Activity in the GIS message bases is still brisk
with lots of SysOp, Bob Puff and Bob Wolley partici¬
pation.
Page 44
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
Computer Networking with Your Atari Qassic
We’ve been talking a lot about computer networks
lately in this column and we’ve only scratched the sur¬
face. Your Atari 8-bit doesn’t just talk to other 8-bits.
It can talk to IBM PC’s as well as Crays—and they
can’t tell the difference. It’s always fun to hear the re¬
action of the guy on the other end with the Sun work¬
station that you’re using an Atari with 64K. Computer
networks as well as on-line computer services and bul¬
letin board systems open entirely new worlds to the 8-
bitter. So get a modem and get connected.
Ben Poehland provides us with the following leads
for some books that go into a lot of depth with respect
to computer networks. Even though they are fairly
“new,” some of the information is a little dated. (1
hour = 186,000 miles in the electronics world, remem¬
ber.) The technical library at your local College or
University might have copies that you could peruse,
prior to purchase. Your public library might be able to
get them through interlibrary loan. (That’s the angle
I’m working.)
The Matrix; Computer Networks & Conferencing
Systems Worldwide by John S. Quarterman. 719 pages
with index (paperback) published 1990. ISBN:
1-55558-033-5.
The User’s Directory of Compute r Networks by
Tracey L. LaQuey (ed.) 630 pages (paperback) pub¬
lished 1990. ISBN: 1-55558-047-5.
Ordering Information: Digital Press, Digital
Equipment Corporation, EQ Box CS 2008, Nashua,
New Hampshire 03061-2008. Order phone:
1-800-344-4825, Monday-Friday 7:30 am - 8:00 pm
ET. FAX orders: 1-800-234-2298, Monday-Friday 8:30
am - 6:00 pm ET. BBS online catalog/or¬
ders: 1-800-234-1998,1200 or 9600, 7:00 am-midnight
ET, 7 days a week. Catalog tt’s & prices: The Ma
trix . ttEY-C176E-DE $49.95. User’s Directory.
«EY-C200E-DI> $35.95. Prices & catalog »’s valid as
of June 1, 1992. Prices include shipping. Major credit
cards are accepted. Inquire about applicable discounts
at time of order. (The Alchemist received a 5% dis¬
count upon grumbling at the high prices). You will
have to pay applicable sales taxes for your state, which
is automatically added to your account charge.
Atari Classics (AC) 8-Bit Magazine Update
Postcards from the AC mail-in campaign are still
drifting in. Ben Poehland, “The Alchemist,” has spent
the past several weeks arranging them in alphabetical
order and reading every single one. Ben reports that
the vast majority of comments on the cards were over¬
whelmingly positive.
This past summer there has been discussion on
the Internet and in Atari Interface Magazine (AIM) re¬
garding the AC effort and its relationship to the rest of
the Atari community, especially ST owners. To set the
record straight, the Alchemist provided his position on
CompuServe.
“The two communities should peacefully co-exist
1 am adamant that AC will not be a platform for ST-
bashing! Although the two communities have diverged
more sharply in recent years, they still share a com¬
mon historical ancestry and, upon occasion, are still
able to contribute to each other in minor ways on tech¬
nical issues. However, 1 do not feel that the 8-bit com¬
munity should be sacrificed just to keq) peace in the
family.”
As for the structure of AC, it is shaping up as fol¬
lows. The AC Resource Editor will investigate new
sources and publish a list of vendors/developers peri¬
odically in AC. There will be a “Swap ’N’ Shop” col¬
umn where people can place private advertisements.
The ads will be free to paid subscribers (subject to cer¬
tain limitations which are still being worked out).
The anticipated content of AC (though not carved
in stone, and dependent on what authors submit) ac¬
cording to experience level is projected as follows:
10% Beginner (plus a dedicated column)
50% Intermediate
40% Advanced
Subject matter of coverage is currently projected
this way:
40% Hardware
45% Software
15% General Interest
According to the interest cards received, there is
also substantial interest in Public Domain (PD) soft¬
ware reviews, the PD market generally, utilities, appli¬
cations, educational programs, games, and program¬
ming tutorials.
Circulation of AC’s Premier Issue, originally
scheduled for SepL/Oct has now slipped to Nov./Dec.
I personally hope to learn how we can do things
through the Alchemist’s experiences and incorporate
things appropriately here at CN. Additional informa¬
tion can be found on CIS, Library 7 in ACl.TXT.
(There may be a AC2.TXT by the time you read this.)
Best Electronics .
Brad Koda of Best informs me that his outstand¬
ing catalog is still available. He also has an addenda
with over 150 additional Atari Classic part numbers
and products. Brad also noted that he had an outstand¬
ing keyboard replacement for the 130XE. Most of the
sales have been overseas on this item. If someone has
one of these key board replacements, we’d love to see
a review of it here in CN. To get a copy of the Best cat¬
alog send $3.67 to:
Best Electronics
2021 The Alameda, Suite 290
San Jose, CA 95126-1127
(408) 243-6950
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 45
TcxtPRO+ Version 5 Update
There have been some additional delays in the
TextPRO-h Version 5 release. Ronnie Riche tells me
that programming for the Beta version is essentially
complete. He has a few more tests to run. The next
hurdle is to copy and mail out the disks to the 80 or so
registered owners.
Vlodci Railroading with Atari Classics
While here in Los Angeles, 1 picked up a copy of
MicroTymes and found an interesting notice in the us¬
er group section. It was for a group that uses Atari 8-
bits in model railroading applications. Needless to say,
I called and had a fascinating conversation with the
group’s coordinator.
The goal of the group is to use computers in the
design of model railroads, control of their operations
and to simulate model railroad systems. So far, they
have developed hardware and software to control en¬
gine throttles through the joystick ports. They have
simulation programs that help in the design and opera¬
tion of the model railroads. They also have developed
programs that generate switch lists and timetables for
layouts.
Why are they using 8-bits? They are cheap, easy
to program, easy to understand, small, flexible, pow¬
erful, etc. etc. (We all know that already.) Many of the
programs are actually being ported from IBM systems
onto the 8-bits. Their quarterly newsletter is done on a
800XL with XDM121 printer. (The coordinator could¬
n’t say enough nice things about that printer. It’s a
tank.)
I hope to get an article from the group in a future
CN issue. They aren’t fully integrated into the “nor¬
mal” 8-bit network and can use a lot of help (espe¬
cially in the SIO and FBI area). They also have a lot to
offer as well, since their hardware and software
projects are fairly documented. For further informa¬
tion, contact:
ATESIG
Decker G. McAllister, Jr., Coordinator
145 Surf Place
Seal Beach, CA 90740-5905
(310) 430-5433
That’s it for this month. Write, call or E-mail your
requests, questions or complaints to:
Rick Reaser
2427 D Meadow Ridge Lane
Montgomery, AL 36117-4616
GEnie: R.REASERJRl
CompuServe: 72130,2073
Connectivity
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plus more. Now it Is easier than ever to use UIS. whether you use the
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Create Folders Copy/Move Rename files Format Floppy
Select Drives Print/Show Set Paths Lock/Unlock Show RAM
Now show pics and arc files with new DC Show er link $24.95
Universal NETwork
Universal NETwork has been installed In 223 systems
since its introduction In April 1991. The software
supports CARTridge. MIDI and LAN port use. Device
drivers for all models of Atari 16 and 32 bit computers is
Included in the package. Expand your computer use with
networking. Share hard drives, printers, and plotters,
works easily between computers. Total TOS
compatibility. There is never an Interruption of your
worfe while using the network because Universal
NETwork equips your system with network
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without disrupting foreground tasks. Easy 9 minute
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and LANnei hardware uses standard 4-wire modular
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Page 46
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
The Ultimate Writing Machine.
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(like scaleable fonts and built in graphics) with an intuitive, easy to learn word
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Working Title US, a division of CodeHeod Technologies, is the official importer of all Working Title products.
Contact us for details about our special offer to trode up from other word processors.
PRODBID: The Video and Film
Production Planner
■0 ^^n3alc ‘Tamplate j^ot l/idto l^toduc^ti
by Paul M. Summitt
So you've been asked to videotape your best
friend’s cousin’s brother-in-law’s daughter’s wedding.
Congratulations. Now all you have to do is decide what
you’re going to charge them.
Charge?
Sure. You are going to charge them for your time
and effort, aren’t you? You’ve spent considerable time
and money gathering the expertise and equipment to
be able to put a video production together. So why
shouldn’t you get paid for doing it, right?
But, how much do you charge for doing it? If it
was your best friend’s wedding you’d do it for free,
wouldn’t you? You’d even consider doing it for free for
your best friend’s cousin. But this is your best friend’s
cousin’s brother-in-law’s daughter’s wedding. So pull
out your trusty Atari 8-bit and load up your copy of
SynCalc. Using the template PRODBID, you too can
figure a budget for a video production. So let’s get to
it.
Getting Started
I’ve used SynCalc software here for this template
(or worksheet in SynCalc-ese) because SynCalc is still
the most widely used Atari 8-bit spreadsheet that will
perform the necessary calculations. But SynCalc isn’t
the only spreadsheet that will do this. The original ver¬
sion of this template was written with SynCalc in 1985
while I was working for the Arkansas Educational Tel¬
evision Network. 1 converted it for use with another
Atari 8-bit spreadsheet program while at Arkansas
State University in 1986. It was upgraded fw SynCalc
while at Alderson-Broaddus College in 1988 as well as
being converted for use with another computer operat¬
ing system’s spreadsheet program. While at Southeast
Missouri State University during the 1989-1990 aca¬
demic term, I converted the template for use with two
different spreadsheet programs for use with another
computer’s operating system.
The reason for explaning the history of this tem¬
plate is so that you’ll understand that even if you don’t
have access to SynCalc, you can still use the same con¬
cept with the spreadsheet software you do have. Sim¬
ply take the information provided in accompanying
PRODBID template description in Table 1 (pages
50-52) and convert the formulas for use with your par¬
ticular spreadsheet program.
If you want to use SynCalc and don’t have a copy,
you may have a problem. SynCalc was sold by Broder-
bund and is no longer available from them. There are,
perhaps, some back copies still available. (Editor’s
Note: B&C ComputerVisions, 2730 Scott Bl\d, Santa
Clara, CA 95050, (408) 986-9960; still has copies of
SynCalc available for $35.95;-RR) Even if you’ve
never used SynCalc before, you should be able to work
your way through the relatively well-written manual
in a short time and learn enough to use this template.
If you’re using SynCalc or some other spreadsheet
software, please keep the manuals close by while using
PRODBID.
Why Prepare a VWeo Budget?
The number of professionals whom I have worked
with and number of students that I teach who attempt
to produce a video or film production without first
considering the costs involved never ceases to amaze
me. Chances are that even if they complete their
projects, the production is not as good as it might have
been had they taken the time to perform the neces¬
sary pre-production planning. Many times the produc¬
tion is left incomplete due to lack of time, proper
equipment, or funds.
As stated in the PRODBID template, the purpose
of PRODBID is to help in the pre-planning stages of a
video or film production so as to anticipate production
needs before they occur thereby allowing allocation of
sufficient funds for the project. There are many
sources of information about video and film budgeting
that I would suggest you look at for more information.
Two of the classic texts are Michael Wiese’s Film and
Video Budgets , published by Michael Wiese Rim Pro¬
ductions, and S.A. Costa’s How to Prepare a Budget for
Rim and Video Tape , published by Tab Books. Both
are slightly dated, although Wiese does update his edi¬
tions from time to time. Both provide the basic infor¬
mation about budgeting.
Spreadsheet Programs and Production Budgeting
Spreadsheet programs are ideal for preparing film
and video production budgets. You simply type in the
personal data such as length of the production,
whether a script, narrator, and special effects are re¬
quired, and other pertinent facts, and the customized
formulas tell the spreadsheet how to compute the
budget from your data. If you decide that you need to
change some of the information, just go to the proper
cell, type in the new information and press [START].
Page 48
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
The entire budget model will begin to recalculate.
I designed this particular PRODBID template for
use on a professional production using half inch VHS
equipment. The individual charges for services are
based on information from a variety of sources includ*
ing The 1989 Writer’s Market and various personnel
charges, which are dependant on the market that you
are working in. You can change these charges to re¬
flect those charges applicable to your particular mar¬
ket size and more iq}-to-date rates.
As consumable items such as video and audio tape
change in price on a regular basis, you will also need
to adjust those costs to reflect the actual price per tape
that you are paying. The prices for special effects are
based on 1989 prices at a post-production house in
Memphis that 1 have worked with since 1985. You’ll
need to adjust those costs to reflect the charges of
post-production houses in your market.
I could go into a long discussion of D-2 format
and time-code editing at this point but this is not an
article about production techniques. It is an article
about using the Atari 8-bit for production budgeting
using SynCalc. So let’s talk about making inputs to the
PRODBID template.
U.sing the PRODBID template
You can download the template from Com¬
puServe, GEnie, or another BBS. (Editor’s Note: The
template is available as PRDBID.SC on CompuServe in
Library 5, Productivity S’Ware. As you know, Com¬
puServe only allows six characters before the extender.
On GEnie, it is file number 5942, PRODBID.SC, in
the Productivity Librar-y-RR) You’ll need to boot Syn¬
Calc before loading PRODBID.SC (or PRDBID.SC if
you downloaded from CompuServe) as a worksheet
For the purposes of this article. I’ll have to as¬
sume that you’re familiar with SynCalc, For instance,
you should know how to move around the spreadsheet
as well as how, in pressing [OPTION], to begin a com¬
mand sequence.
Follow the directions in PRODBIDTXT and type
in the information and formulas. If you’re using a dif¬
ferent spreadsheet program than SynCalc make sure
you make the necessary conversions in the formulas.
You’ll also want to entry protect the template/work¬
sheet from cell A91 through cell HI91.
Special Notes
This updated version of PRODBID was written on
an Atari 800XL upgraded with the ICD Rambo XL
and the Atari 1050 disk drive upgraded with the ICD
US Doubler. The result is that the spreadsheet may be
too large for a 48k or 64k machine. There are a vari¬
ety of tricks that you may use in typing the model in
that will make more space available. One of them is
eliminating the information in A1 through H51. I
don’t really recommend this for a variety of reasons
(one of them being my name is in this area). The in¬
formation here provides any user with background on
the model that could be useful should problems arise.
Go Forth and Videotape
As mentioned earlier, pre-planning of a videotape
production can save time and money. Plan out your
production well using your Atari 8-bit computer and
you won’t have the headaches you would otherwise.
After you’re finished with the planning stages you can
tell your clients exactly how much it will cost to pro¬
duce their videotape productions.
(Editor’s Note: I sucessfully ran the template on a
130XE with no memory problems. It also worked on
my ancient, vanilla, 48K 800.1 didn’t need to consult
the SynCalc manual at all once the template was
loaded, since Syncalc has such an intuitive and self-ex¬
planatory user interface. I encourage you to look at the
internals of Paul’s template. He uses some of the more
advanced spreadsheet techniques available with Syn¬
Calc, such as the infamous “-IF THEN ELSE” func¬
tion, which is not included with VisiCalc. “-SUM,”
which VisiCalc does support, is also present. —RR).
o
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o
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MAILING MANAGER ST
The Ultimate Dedicated Mailing List
Program For Your Atari ST/TT
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Customer Lists • Bowling Lists • Newsletter &
Magazine Subscriptions • Print: Labels in any
format, Custom Reports / Phone Number & Address
Listings, Form Letters • Many, many more uses....
Major Features: Easy to use • Full GEM interface •
Default Entries & Programmable function keys allow
for quick & easy record entry • Very Fast • Powerful
Search • Mailmerge & Form Letters • Versatile
Label Layout • Advanced Sorting • Much more...
System Requirements: ANY Atjiri ST, STe, MEGA,
Stacy or TT with 512K, SS or DS floppy or hard disk,
monochrome or color monitor, TOS 1.x - 3.x, ANY
Parallel or Serial printer (Dot Matrix or Laser). As many
as 32,000 names per datafile, unlimited number of files.
Ail these features and more for the
low introductory price of only: $44.95^
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See your local Atari Dealer or contact us directly at:
FOLCH SOFTWARE, 1823 W 8th St., Erie, PA 16505
(814) 455-1294 Call or write for free information package
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1992 POUCH SOPTWARb. All RisPj-. I’RICT. AND SPmi
^orp.. Mailing Manaact St
IPICATIONS SUBICCT T(
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I-CT TO CHANCE WITHOUT NOTICE
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 49
Table 1. PRODBID Tenplate Description
B1:H S J PRODUCTIONS COHFIDEHTIOL PRODUCTION BID
PROPOSAL
fl6i[Flush RlghtlNAME:
B6:PR0DBID (VIDEO S FILM BUDGET SPREADSHEET)
A8:[Flush RightlDATE:
B8:WITTEN JUNE 19B5
AlOi[Flush RlghtlAUTHOR:
BIB:PAUL H. SUHHITT
AIZ:[Flush RightlDEPT:
BIZ:ACCOUNTING
A14:DIVISION:
B14:PRE-PRODUCTION
A19:DATE MODIFIED
C19:HH0 MODIFIED AND HHAT
020 :-
C2Bi — ——
AZ1:Z4 JUNE 1990
CZl:Sunnitt - Instructions S Data Input Area
AZ5:The purpose of this nodel is to help in the
pre-planning stages
AZ6:of a video or filn production so as to an¬
ticipate production
AZ7:needs before theg occur thereby alloHing al¬
location of sufficient
AZ8:funds for the project.
A3B:Directions for use:
A3i:l. Load Spreadsheet Progran (this version
Has HTitten for SVNCALC)
A3Z:Z. Load PRODBID spreadsheet.
A33:3. Enter inforaation requested in Section A
of spreadsheet.
A34:4. Save spreadsheet back to disk under nen
nane.
A35:5. Print out Budget Proposal to your
printer.
A37:Reference;
B37:Hiese, Michael. FILM t VIDEO BUDGETS.
Mestport, Conn.:
B38:Michael Hiese Filn Productions, 1984.
A39:Reference:
B39:Costa, S. A. HOH TO PREPARE A BUDGET FOR
B4B:FILM S VIDEO TAPE. Blue Ridge Sunnit, PA:
Tab Books,
841:1973.
A4Z:Reference:
B4Z:Nevison, John M. "The Ins of Spreadsheet
PoMer."
B43:PC-COMPUTING. June 1990. pp. 9Z-1B5.
A45:Contents:
B46:Introductlon: Title, description, contents.
B47:Initial Data input.
B48:Bid Proposal Print out
A58;SECTION A: Initial Data Input
A5Z:Directions: Ansner the folloHing questions.
A54:NAME OF PERSON REQUESTING PRODUCTION:
E54:[Entry Area for A54.1
ASS: NAME OF COMPANV REQUESTING PROD.:
ESS:[Entry Area for ASS.]
AS6: ADDRESS OF COMPANY:
ES6:[Entry Area for AS6.]
AS7: CITY, STATE, AND ZIP CODE:
ES7:[Entry Area for AS7.]
AS8: PHONE:
ES8:[Entry Area for AS8.1
ASS: BID DATE:
ESS:[Entry Area for A99.1
AGO: TITLE OF PRODUCTION:
EGO:[Entry Area for AGO.]
AGl: ESTIMATED LENGTH OF PRODUCTION:
EGl:[FORMAT PRECISION 01
FGl:(MINUTES)
AGZ: PROJECT TYPE:
EGZ:[Entry Area for AGZ.l
AG3: SCRIPT REQU1RED?(YES=1 OR N0=Z):
EG3:[FORMAT PRECISION 01
AG4:SPECIAL EFFECTS RE0UIRED7(YES OR NO):
EG4:[FORMAT PRECISION 01
AGS: TRAVEL REQUIRED?(YES OR HO):
EGS:[FORMAT PRECISION 01
AGG: Distance:
EGG:[FORMAT PRECISION 01
FGG:(niles)
AG7: NARRATION RE0UIRED7(YES OR HO):
EG7:[FORMAT PRECISION 01
AG8: MUSIC RE0UIRED7(YES OR HO):
EG8:[FORMAT PRECISION 01
AGS: Hunber of Musicians
EGS:[FORMAT PRECISION 01
A7B: HUMBER OF COPIES OF PRODUCTION:
E7B:[FORMAT PRECISION 01
A71: HUMBER OF CAMERAS REQUIRED:
E71:[FORMAT PRECISION 01
A73:SECTION B: PRINT OUT
A7SDirections:
B7S:Copy infomation requested to cells E7G -
E79, B84 and F84.
B7G:Enter infomation requested to cells A8Z
through A8S.
B77:Copy inforaation requested to cells B84,
BBS, S F8S.
B78:Ready Printer and print ABO to HZZB.
A80:M S J PRODUCTIONS CONFIDENTIAL PRODUCTION
BID PROPOSAL
A8Z:(Your Conpany Nane)
D8Z:Bid for:
E8Z:/copy ES4 to this location
A83:(Vour Address)
E83:/copy ESS to this location
A84:(Your City, State, Zip)
E84:/copy ESG to this location
A8S:(Your Phone)
E8S:/copy ES7 to this location
Page 50
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
(188iBid Date:
888:/copy C16
D88:Projected Length:
E88:[FaRH8T PRECISION 81
F88:Hinutes
089: Title:
889:/copy E6B
D89: Project Type:
F89:/copy E6Z
091:Pre-Production:
C91:[PRECISION 21 eiF Efi3sl THEN lt(F88)(8)/6B
ELSE (F88«8)/60
091:DOTS
E91:Shooting Radio:
691:[PRECISION 018
09Z:Production:
C92: [PRECISION Z1 eiF E65=l THEN
2t(((F88«G91)/6B)/B) ELSE BIF E65=Z THEN
((F8iN(G91)/6B)/8 ELSE G
D91:D0VS
093:Post-Production:
C93:[PRECISION Zl BIF E64rl THEN
2«((F88KG91)6B)/8 ELSE BIF E64:Z THEN
((F88«G91)/6B)/8 ELSE B
D93:DRVS
E93:Total Project Days
G93:eSUH(C91:C93)
gjS;-
D96:0UflHTITY
F96:C0ST
696:SUBTTL
057:-
098:0. Story
055 :-
BIBB:Concept S Script
D1BB:[PRECISIBH Bl GIF E63=l THEN 1 ELSE B
F1BB:[F0RN0T $ PRECISION 21 Z5MF88
G1BB:[F0RH0T $ PRECISION Zl DIBBnFIBB
G1B2:[F0RH0T $ PRECISION 21 GIBB
H1B3:[FORHOT $ PRECISION 21 GIBZ
01B4:B. Talent
0105;-
BIBS:PRODUCER/DIRECTOR
D1B6:[PRECISION Bl BIF E63=l THEN 1 ELSE G
E1B6:FEE
FlBG:eiF F88>1 THEN SBN653KF88/6G ELSE SB
G1GG:[F0RM0T $ PRECISION 21 D1B6«F1B6
0107* UfiRROTnR
D1B7:[PRECSI0H 01 eiFE67rl THEN 1 ELSE B
E1G7;FEE
F1B7;[F0RH0T $ PRECISION 21 5kF 88
G1B7:[F0RM0T $ PRECISION 21 DlB7)fFlB7
G1B5:[F0RH0T $ PRECISION 21 eSUH(GlB6:GlB7)
H1B5:[F0RH0T $ PRECISION 21 HlB3tGlB9
0111;C. Production Personnel
0112 :-
B113:Videographer
D113:[F0RH0T $ PRECISION 21 C92XE71
E113:D0YS
F113:[FaRH0T $ PRECISION 21 10x8
G113:[F0RH0T $ PRECISION 21 D113XF113
B114:Prod. Osst.
D114:[F0RH0T $ PRECISION 21 C5ZXE71
E114;D0YS
F114:[F0RH0T $ PRECISION 21 5x8
G114:[F0RM0T $ PRECISION 21 D114XF114
G116;[F0RH0T $ PRECISION 21 BSIM(6113:8114
H117:[F0RH0T $ PRECISION 21 HllB^Glie
0119:0. Production Expenses
0190*__
BlZlicreM Heai
cm:[PRECISION 81 eCHT(01B6:lB6)«eCNT(D113:D114)
0121:[PRECISION Bl GIF 665=1 THEN C9Z ELSE B
E121:days
F1Z1:[F0RH0T $ PRECISION 21 18XC121
6121:[F0RH0T $ PRECISION 21 DlZlxFlZl
B12Z:Petty Cash
0122:[PRECISION 21 C9ZXF88/6B
E12Z:days
F122:[F0R110T $ PRECISION 2125
G122:[F0RH0T $ PRECISION 21 D122XF122
BlZ3:Gratuities
0123:[PRECISION 21 C9ZXF88/6B
ElZ3:days
F1Z3:[F0RH0T $ PRECISION 21 25
G123:[F0RH0T $ PRECISION 21 D1Z3XF1Z3
B124:Transportation
0124:[PRECISION 21 BIF E65=l THEN E66 ELSE B
E124:niles
FlZ4:[F0Rn0T $ PRECISION 21 B.25
GlZ4:[F0Rn0T $ PRECISION 21 D1Z4XF1Z4
B125:Nisc. Expenses
0125:[PRECISION Bl GIF E65=l THEN 1 ELSE B
E125:flat fee
F125:[F0RH0T $ PRECISION 21 IBB
6125:[F0RH0T $ PRECISION 21 D125XF125
6127:[F0R110T $ PRECISION 21 GSUH(G1Z1;G125)
H1Z8:[F0RH0T $ PRECISION 21 G127«H117
(il3B:E. Video and Field Equipnent
B131:-
B132:C(lt1ERB S RECORDER
0132:[PRECISION 21 GIF E71 THEN E71XC92 ELSE B
E132:DBYS
F132;[F0RHBT $ PRECISION 21 25
G132;[F0RHAT $ PRECISION 21 D132XF13Z
B133:Lighting Equipnent
0133:[PRECISION 21 GIF E71 THEN E71XC9Z ELSE B
E133:DBYS
F133;[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 15
G133:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 D133XF133
G135:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 GSUM(6132:6133)
H136:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 G135tHlZ8
A141:F. Video and Audio Tape Stock
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 51
fll42:-
B143il/Z» VMS Haster
D143:[PRECISION 01 RIF F88 THEN 1 ELSE 8
E143:12B nln
E143:[F0Rn0T $ PRECISION 21 5.84
F143:[F0RN0T $ PRECISION 21 D143XF143
8144:1/2" VHS Field
0144:[PRECISION 8] RIF F88 THEN
eiNT((F88xG91)/12B) ELSE eiF(F88xG91)/12B<l<B
THEN 1 ELSE 0
E144:12B nin
F144:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 5.84
0144:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 D144XF144
8145:1/4" audio cass.
0145:[PRECISION 01 eiF E68=l THEN ((F88/6B)K3)
ELSE 0
E14S:C-6B
F145:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 3.24
0145:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 D145XF145
0147:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 OSUM(0143:0145)
H148:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 G147^H136
A15B:G. Music and Audio Recording
fllSls-
B152:Studio
0152:[PRECISION 01 RIF E68=l THEN ((F88/60)K5)
ELSE 0
E152:hours
F152:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 25
0152:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 0152XF152
BlS3:Musicians
C153:[PRECISION 01 E69
0153:[PRECISION 01 RIF Efi8=l THEN ((F88/6B)K5)
ELSE 0
E1S3:hours
F153:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 35
0153:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 F153X01S3
BlS4:HixdoHn
0154:[PRECISION 01 RIF E68=l THEN ((F88/6B)X3)
ELSE 0
E154:hours
F154:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 25
0154:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 0154XF154
0156:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 RSUH(G152:G154)
H157:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 G156tH148
A159:H. Video Editing
0188:-
8161:E0IT0R
0161:[PRECISION 01 C93
E161:0AVS
F161:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 10X8
0161:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 0161XF161
8162:OFF-LINE EOITING
0162:[PRECISION 01 RIF E64:2 THEN C93 ELSE RIF
E64=l THEN (F88xG91)/6B ELSE 0
E162:0AVS
F162:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 25
0162:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 0162XF162
B163:0ubbing
0163:[PRECISION 81 RIF E64=l THEN 0144 ELSE 8
E163:H0UR
F163:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 135
0163:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 0163XF163
B164:0n-line Editing
0164:[PRECISION 01 RIF E64=l THEN 1 ELSE 0
E164:days
F164:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 800
0164: [FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 0164XF164
6165:Titles
0165:[PRECISION 01 RIF F88<0.99 THEN 0 ELSE
RINT((1/1B)XF88)
E165:days
F165:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 25
0165:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 0165XF165
B166:0ubs
0166:[PRECISION 01 RIF E7B THEN E7B ELSE 0
E166:copies
F166:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 18
0166:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 0166XF166
0168:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 RSUM(G161:6166)
H169:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 G168+H157
A171:G. OFFICE
0172:-
8173:TELEPHONE
0173:[PRECISION 21 093/(4.2x7)
E173:M0NTHS
F173:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 150
0173:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 F173X0173
8174:COPY COSTS
0174:[PRECISION 21 093/(4.2x7)
E174:H0NTHS
F174:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 38
0174:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 0174XF174
8175:POSTAGE
0175:[PRECISION 21 093/(4.2x7)
E175:M0NTHS
F175:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 30
0175:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 0175XF175
8176:OFFICE SUPPLIES
0176:[PRECISION 21 093/(4.2x7)
E176:M0NTHS
F176:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 30
0176:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 0176XF176
0178:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 GSUM(0173:0176)
H179:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 0178+8169
0182:-
8187:SUB-TOTAL
H187:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 H179
8188:INSURANCE
H188:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 H187X8.B3
8189:CONTINGENCY
H189:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21(H187+H188)XB.B1
E19B:TOTAL
H19B:[FORMAT $ PRECISION 21 eSUH(187:H189)
Page 52
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
feel the need... THE NEED FOR SPEED
Esgljies * Pratt & JT-ilS Tsrliafaijs
32,00010s. thrust w/ aft«rb«f»«rs j
Ceiling ^ Classified <00,000^
SST
t§troducm^ the fastest^ most compatible, most
flexible acceleratof available for the Atari Mega ST:
the splendiferous totally cool 6803Q. SST. With its
screamingly fast 68030 microprocessor, up to 8 meg
offastRAM (to 12 rmg totalX asynchronous design,
and special compatibilky sq/tware by Dave Small,
...The dream cafi be yours! So bringyomMtga
ST into the 90’s, and turn it into one of the fewest ^
machines on the planet!
From the people who brought you Macintosh
emulation on the Atari (and whose Dad actually
flew the SR-71).
SST prices start at $599.00
68030 SST
Speed -16 to 40 mhz asynchronous desigsi; up
to 12 times faster than a Mega ST
Engine > MCfiSOSO Miaoprocessor with
Caches and Burst Mode Afterhumer
Ceiling > up to 12 Megabytes of RAM
Fuel - up to 8 Megabytes of 32 bit fastRAM In
tandem w/ a 16, 33 or 40 mhz oscillator
Operating System - TOS 2.05 (Mega STe), with
the new Atari desktop
Expansion - processor direct slot; Chromax
Super Video board already ‘^in rollout”
User Upgradeable - when ever yon want to
0
P Gadgets by Small SSTSSTSST.
40 W. Littleton Blvd.; #210-211 • Littleton, CO 80120 • (303) 791-6098 • Fax (303) 791-0253
The Ultra Speed Plus OS
“Th^ 0jaet&tin^ -{itsxi Should ^atre SmtulUd
by Charles A. Cole
The Ultra Speed Plus Operating System {US+
05), developed by Bob Puff, is a replacement operat¬
ing system ROM chip for your Atari XL or XE com¬
puter. Through the flip of a 3-position toggle switch, it
gives you three operating systems in one. You can
choose between the 400/800 OS, the standard XL/
XE OS, or the US+ OS. The 400/800 and XL/XE
systems are pretty mundane, but the US+ OS adds
many new features to your Atari 8-bit computer.
Basic Features
When in the 400/800 mode, an XL or XE is
completely compatible with older software, thereby
negating the need for a translator disk.
Another nice feature is reversal of the [OPTION]
key function to disable BASIC. With this modifica¬
tion, holding down [OPTION] as you boot enables the
built-in BASIC rather than disabling it. Since most
commercial software has to run without BASIC
present, this feature saves a lot of time normally spent
holding down the [OPTION] key on XL or XE sys¬
tems. This key reversal is true for all three OSs con¬
tained in the new ROM chip.
The center position, standard XL/XE OS, is used
for those few pieces of software that refuse to boot on
a modified system or drive, such as the AtariWriter+
disk version, Synfile+, Electronic Arts programs, and
some Broderbund software titles.
The UltraSpeed-i- Mode Difference
The main features of the system, however, are in
the US+ mode. Bob Puff has refined and modified the
original Atari OS and created the system that Atari
should have installed in the first place. The features of
this new OS alone make the modification well worth
its price. I have been using the US+ OS for the past
couple of years, and have grown so used to having it
that I have to learn some commands all over again
when I switch to a computer that does not have US+.
The first and most obvious difference is an im¬
proved screen clarity, because Mr. Puff changed the
Atari’s default screen color from light to dark blue.
This may not seem like a big deal, but once you get
used to this improved color combination, a standard
Atari system really hurts and tires your eyes!
The second most important benefit to the US+
OS is faster disk reading and writing. An equivalent
of the Happy OS has been programmed into the US-l;
which turns any XF551 disk drive into a real speed de¬
mon. The documentation claims a three-fold speed in¬
crease with XFSSl and Happy drives. In combination
with the 3-1/2 inch drive mc^ification sold by Com¬
puter Software Services (CSS) and its inproved
XF551 ROM chip, and the SpartaDOS X cartridge’s
High Speed Sector Skew, my XF551 now emits a
high-pitched squeal instead of the usual clunk, clunk
I/O sounds. These three modifications together must
equal a 10-fold increase in read/write speeds.
Other Features
For those interested in expansion memory, the
US+ OS offers the ability for one or two megabyte up¬
grades without having to disable your internal basic as
you might have to do with other upgrade plans. In this
area, I cheated a little and bought a modified 130XE
offered by CSS that already had the US+ and a 320K
RAM upgrade in it for $250, instead of trying to add
my own memory modifications and possibly destroy¬
ing my 130XE in the process. After all, they are much
more experienced at that sort of thing than I am, and
I know it will work if they do the installation. This
way, I still have my stock 130XE to fall back on if
anything should happen to my “good” computer.
If you don’t like Bob Puff’s choice of screen col¬
ors, you can easily change them from within the US+
OS. If you have young fingers around your house that
like to play with your keyboard when you take a
break, the US+ OS offers keyboard lock and screen
blanking commands. This way, even if the kiddies do
play Chopsticks on your keyboard, no harm is done to
whatever program may be running at the time, and
they will probably think the computer is not even
turned on.
The Atari 130XE’s self diagnostics test was im¬
proved to include all chips in the computer, both ROM
and RAM, including any expansion memory you may
have. If you think you might have a flaky chip, a 10
minute run of this module will provide an instant
readout of your entire computer’s innards.
Do you do a lot of disk copying? The US+ OS in¬
cludes a built-in sector copier that sets up an internal
RAMdisk for this purpose. You can copy a single-den¬
sity, 720-sector disk into this RAMdisk on a 130XE,
and then copy from RAMdisk to another floppy. That
can certainly be faster than Atari DOS’s 3 pass copier.
Page 54
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
If you get tired of listening to your Atari’s disk
read/write clunks, chirps, and other assorted noises,
you can toggle this off from within the US-h OS in¬
stead of having to turn down the volume on your
monitor or TV.
The Atari screen defaults to a left margin of 2. If
you are trying to read a 40-column text file on screen,
this causes words to break and wrq) around on lines
that are a full 40 characters long. A margin toggle re¬
sets the left margin to 0, giving you the full 40 col¬
umns for text. Re-toggling returns it to its normal set¬
ting.
A standard 130XE can sometimes be very frus¬
trating because of the time you must wait for the
chips to discharge before you can reboot. The 130XE
manual even warns you against restoring power too
soon after turning the switch off. The US+ OS did en¬
tirely away with that by using chips that do not retain
a charge. You can turn the power off and then back
on again as fast as you want to without any adverse ef¬
fects.
A built-in drive configuration menu can be
changed to your particular desires if you operate mul¬
tiple drives and RAMdisks. The default setting is for
the 130XE’s internal RAMdisk to be drive tt4. You
can even boot from the RAMdisk by redesignating it
as drive ttl and copying DOS or any other program
into it. You can even format your RAMdisk in either
single or double density.
If the cursor moves too slow to your liking, no
sweat. You can increase its speed at will from a snail’s
pace to near the speed of light. If you are running
some software that also offers faster cursor move¬
ments, they will combine their effects to really zip
around the screen.
When using the internal RAMdisk, any power
loss means instant data loss as well. What if a pro¬
gram causes your system to mysteriously lock up for
some reason, and you have something in the
RAMdisk that you don’t want to lose? With a standard
OS, you have no choice but to turn off the power
switch. With the US+ OS, you can do a RESET that
will be the equivalent of a cold boot, but your
RAMdisk contents are not lost because you do not
have to turn the power off. In some cases, this feature
alone may be worth the cost of the US+ OS.
And lastly, the US+ OS offers an improved math
package in its ROM (FASCHIP) that corrects some of
the shortcomings of the Atari floating point routine.
Since BASIC programs rely heavily on these calcula¬
tions, you will notice a definite speed improvement in
BASIC execution. There will probably be some pro¬
grams that will run too fast under the US+ OS. The
Software Automatic Mouth (^.A.M.) speech synthe¬
sizer from Don’t Ask Software, for example, may
sound more like a soprano than a baritone, or talk too
fast to be understood. Simply switching back to the
Standard XL/XE OS will solve these problems.
Cunclusiun
For the features offered by the US+ OS modifica¬
tion, you can’t go wrong. I have not encountered a sin¬
gle function that did not perform as advertised or even
better than claimed. Bob Puff and CSS really deserve
a gold star for developing this system—in fact, for all
of their systems. In this age of shrinking Atari 8-bit
support, CSS stands out as one of the best friends any
Atari owner ever had. Get to know these people. You
won’t be sorry that you did. They offer several prod¬
ucts for the 8-bit Atari, including repair service, that
are top-notch. The US+ OS is only one of many CSS
products that I have purchased over the years, and 1
have never been disappointed by them.
The Ultra Speed Plus Operating System {US+
OS) is available for $69.95 from:
Computer Software Services
R0.BOX 17660
Rochester, NY 14617
9 2 0 9 ?
Does your mailing label have 9209 on the first line?
If so, the 9th month of 1992, i.e. September, is your
^last issue. Don’t miss any issues. Renew ASAP!!
NEW! From the CN Library
ST REPORTS 1992
CN readers who have, and use, their modems can And on
the national telecommunications services (CompuServe, Del¬
phi, GEnie) as well as local BBSs, up-to-the-minute Atari
news, new product announcements, transcripts of online con¬
ferences with major Atari hardware and software vendors, and
lots and lots of discussion (questions posed, and answered)
relating to the Atari platforms. If you don’t have a modem and
don't tap into this online world, or, find it relatively expensive
to download files all the time, you are missing a whole facet of
Atari computing.
For just those readers, we have arranged to make available
a new series of disks, ST Reports, which will each contain two
months of the ST Report International Online Magazine. This
weekly publication will often fill 50-1- pages when printed out
and has a wealth of information for Atari owners. A double¬
sided disk, with two months of Reports on it, can result in 400
or so pages. That is a lot of information. The months covered
(all 1992) on each disk are indicated below:
IfSRt January and February
ltSR2 March and April
#SR3 May and June
/fSR4 July and August
Disks are $4.00 each and can be ordered from the CN
Library, 122 N Johnson Rd, Sterling, VA 20164.
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 55
TOS and DOS
^o~~Jl^xiJtence -Ot Jlaitl 11
by Michael D, Wolf
My introduction to computers (four years ago) in¬
volved passionate dissertations by two close friends:
one, a Mac Plus aficionadt^ the other, a DOS (4 mhz,
8088 processor, HeadStart) fanatic. I knew that I just
had to have a computer, but “which one” was the
burning question. The performance and slick graphic
user interface of the Mac heavily swayed me, but 1
could not escape the lure of the DOS systems’ color
capabilities and massive program library. Still, after
eight months of intense bombardment from both
camps, I hadn’t made a firm commitment.
Then, just as an outrageous, uncontrollable urge to
buy a computer was pulling me into the DOS camp, a
third friend appeared and introduced me to the Atari
1040ST. The decision was instantly made. After all,
how could 1 pass up the 1040ST with its 8 mhz proces¬
sor, DOS-like color and Mac-like monochrome capa¬
bilities, graphic user interface, built-in MIDI and
sound, a $500 cost savings, DOS and MAC emulation
capabilities, etc, etc, etc? I couldn’t! And besides, the
$500 savings certainly bought me a lot of nice soft¬
ware.
The 1040ST provided excellent service in word
processing, games, and artistic applications and was
eventually rqilaced by a four megabyte 1040STe. How¬
ever, the Atari world was shrinking almost as fast as
the DOS market was growing. Still, like all loyal com¬
puter buffs, I passionately clung to the 1040STe and
touted its merits to all who would listen (and bent the
ears of a few who wouldn’t). But, alas, my office expo¬
sure with DOS systems continually exerted pressure to
“conform to the norm.”
To thwart the tide of DOS, 1 purchased emulators
such as pc ditto, pc ditto II (hardware version) and, fi¬
nally, a Supercharger. Since this hybrid system would
support all Atari resolutions as well as VGA, I sold my
RGB monitor and purchased a ACER multi-sync
monitor plus an Omni switch (the Omni switch allows
switching from color to monochrome and provides the
proper circuitry to use a multi-sync with the Atari).
This gave me the capability of super VGA (should I
“ever” get a DOS system), allowed me to use my Spec¬
tre GCR (MAC emulator), and enabled me to avoid
the clutter of two Atari monitors.
While this new set-up justified keeping the
1040STe and provided an excellent entry into the world
of DOS, the emulators just weren’t adequate to handle
the types of work (on a consistent basis) that I was
ccMitinually exposed to. And so, I took the plunge and
purchased an eight megabyte, dual floppy, 205 meg
hard-drive, CD-ROM equipped, 486 clone.
To Sell or Not Sell
Now, the dreaded question arose, “Should I sell the
1040STe?” It isn’t as difficult a question as one might
think. 1 simply examined my Atari system and
quickly determined that
1. I would take a financial beating if I sold it.
2. Several pieces of software cannot be matched by
the clone system in price/performance/ease of
use.
3. The clones do not have built-in MIDI capabilities
(you have to spend approximately $500 extra to
match the 1040ST/STe.)
4. I’m a techno junkie and just want a dq^endable
back-up machine (in the event that either system
fails.)
5. I have some software/games that are excellent
and duplicating them in a DOS incarnation
would prove very costly
6. I would have to give up access to a multitude of
Macintosh programs (run from the Spectre
GCR.)
Two Computers, One Monitor
So, now the question became, “How do I get both
systems working together, simultaneously, on one
monitor?” This took three months of searching cata¬
logs and phoning various dealers in pursuit of a moni¬
tor switch-box. I was repeatedly told, “no such box, to
my knowledge, exists.”
In frustration, I was about to attempt to build such
a box when a catalog from JDR Microdevices ap¬
peared in my mailbox. In it, I found a switch-box that
would handle sharing one monitor between two com¬
puters. I phoned JDR for advice and the technician ex¬
plained that the switch-box contained diodes which al¬
lowed switching from one computer to the other while
all components were turned on! Having the solution at
hand, I ordered the switch-box and two monitor cables
(you need two additional cables, one for each compu¬
ter), for a total bill of $61.47, including shipping and
handling.
Page 56
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
Installation
The package arrived via UPS in six days and I
hustled to the computers and eagerly went to work. In¬
stallation was painless:
1. Connect the monitor cable to the switch-box in¬
put connector.
2. Connect one cable to the switch-box “A” con¬
nects and the OMNI switch video input (OMNI
switch output goes to Atari video input)
3. Connect the remaining cable to the “B” connec¬
tor and the 486s’ video output.
That’s it!!! Installation completed.
Simultaneous TOS and DOS
So, how does it work? Seam-Iessly!!! I simply boot¬
up both computer systems, and, at the flip of a switch,
I can see my TOS or DOS application desktops. This is
especially nice since I currently use Windows 3.J as
my operating environment on the DOS machine. Win¬
dows allows me to point and click to run a program,
much like the Atari system. Additionally, I can open
and run multiple programs (over 20 simultaneously) in
the Windows environment.
Let’s say that I want to download files from a BBS,
do some 3D art work rendering (both are time con¬
suming, automatic processes) and play Battle of Brit¬
ain. I start my DOS telecommunication program from
Windows, sign on and begin downloading. I then
switch to another window and open my 3D rendering
program, load the Hie to be rendered and start the ren¬
dering process. I now have two self-running programs
going in DOS. I flip the switch on the monitor switch-
box and start Battle of Britain. It’s that simple!!! At any
time, I can pause Battle of Britain, flip the switch,
view the progress of either DOS program, and simply
flip the switch to return to Battle of Britain.
Needless to say, / like it!!! In addition to this, I can
run DOS applications and MAC applications via the
same process. But it is only because of the flexibility
of the Atari system (in its ability to emulate a MAC
via the Spectre OCR) that I am able to do so. The
Ataris’ flexibility is quite amazing and unique among
computers.
What It Takes
(Parts, Prices and Who’s Got ’Em)
If you’re thinking of a DOS system, here are the
prices I paid (minus TOS and DOS computers):
1 Acer Multi-Sync Monitor
$400.00
1 Omni Switch
80.00
1 JDR Keyboard/VGA Switch-box
(ordertt RSK 15-2WA)
34.95
2 JDR VGA Monitor Cable
(orderO CBL-HDB15-MM) 7.95ea
15.90
Total
$530.85
JDR Microdevices 1-800-538-5000. Medionix Inc. (Ac¬
er monitor) 619-597-6000 (Omni switch.)
A Few Words From Our Users
San>TV\ompson
Sourv6sUr\\\n\<ieo
, 7AASW.7a\5rtS\TeeX
\ mC.VAV A0024
A67Ho\\>rNOodfeWcV
\os ^nQe\es. CA 9AA5A
^ature /
\ \ str..- \ \
Xx cta.JIXN'egraa. A
Some Unsolicited Comments About Tracker/ST v3.0.
Every once in while we get a letter about Tracker/ST (our leading mailing
lisl/mail merge program for the Atari), and we thought it would be nice to share
some of the more recent comments with you, as sort of a break from our more
traditional advertising.
Hmmm, let’s see. Here’s one: “Wfe love the program. Also, the duplicate
name warning system is a great idea.'* That one came from a minister in
Evansville, Indiana. (We didn’t have the time to contact each of the writers for
permission to use their names, so we’releaving their names out. But these are
real comments from real people.) Someone in Point Roberts, Washington wrote
to say, “Thank you for the really superb program. Keep up the good work.
need as many people as possible creating programs for the Atari ST."
When we sent out our upgrade notice for Tracker/ST v3.0, we received a
wonderful letter from an antiques dealer in La Jolla, California: “YES!!! 1 am
very pleased with the Tracker program...[and now] you have added more
indispensable features. You are way ahead of me. I had planned to write to
you with additional features that I need, [but] you did them before 1 knew
they were possible...! am very plea.sed with Tracker. 1 will eagerly await the
update!" Finally, a note on a recent registration card that came to us from
Madrid, “I will need an Spanish u.ser manual." Sorry, but Tracker/ST is
available only in English.
So if you need a dynamite mailing list/mail merge program, check out
Tracker/ST. Because, honestly, we need lots of new users to keep writing us
these very nice letters.
Step Ahead Software • 496-A Hudson Street, #F39 • New York, NY 10014 • 212-627-5830
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 57
DEUTEROS
■di the (?ommandet ^aith ^Itij^ 3&ptute the iVotldl
by James Parker
AcliVisioH
In the Beginning...
In the game Millennium 2.2, a gigantic asteroid
had crashed into the Earth, destroying all human life
in the cataclysm that followed. The only remnant of
man was a small colony on the moon. From there
your job was to somehow recolonize the Earth; but to
do so, massive resources would be needed. Your scien¬
tists on Moon Base created specific human mutations
that could live on other planets, in order to mine for
resources. Eventually, Earth was restored, and Moon
Base was abandoned. As time passed, man forgot
about space flight and no contact was made with the
outer colonies. Even Moon Base became a legend.
1,000 Years Later
Enter Deuteros. A thousand years have passed
since then (the year is now 3100 AD), and the human
race is just getting back into space. Just because things
have been quiet on Earth doesn’t mean that it’s been
that way in the rest of the solar system. The
Methanoids and the Hydroids, the two races of mu¬
tants, have been at war. The Methanoids were the vic¬
tors and now share the solar system with one other
species-us. After the war, the Methanoids were too
busy mining beyond the asteroid belt and developing
new technology to pay any attention to us humans. Be¬
sides, we hadn’t ventured out into space for over 1,000
years. There had been no contact with Earth.
You Are the Commander
You are the newly appointed commander of Earth
City, where all research and training of recruits takes
place. Your first job will be to train research scientists,
production technicians, and mariners on Earth, which
is where all research and training must take place.
Your research team leader starts out as a technician,
but as he researches new items, his skill, speed and
rank increase, through Doctor to Professor. To run the
factories, you’ll need a production staff, and as you
spread throughout the solar system, many production
staffs. Your production leader starts as an Apprentice
and progresses through Engineer to Expert as his skill
increases. The Mariners are needed to run your space¬
craft. When you start, you’ll need a crew for every
shuttle and ship. As your mariners gain experience,
they will be promoted from Pilot to Captain, and then
to Admiral.
After you have trained your recruits, put your re¬
search team to work. You can’t build anything without
researching it first, and when that’s done, you’ll need
the raw materials to start construction. If you have the
materials, then your production staff can start. The
first thing you will want to build are several mining
derricks, to improve your flow of minerals. Next,
build a shuttle and eight orbital factory pieces and then
you’ll be ready to assemble it in orbit All this is done
with the mouse, and the only keyboard input is when
you either name a ship or save a game. Your first or¬
bital factory is a stepping stone to the rest of the solar
system, and beyond.
As you train new recruits, build new gizmos, and
balance mineral supplies, your mouse will get quite a
workout. As your colonies grow, it can get hectic keep¬
ing up with everything. Luckily, there are devices you
can produce that will automate many of the tedious
jobs, and let you concentrate on the more important
ones! As in Millennium 2.2, you don’t really have
much of an idea of what to do at first, besides build an
orbital factory from which to produce larger ships and
devices. 1 don’t want to say too much, as most fun in
the game is discovering what’s out there, and research¬
ing new gadgets as your technology increases. You will
eventually meet the Methanoids, and it’s only then
that you start to see the real plot. It’s a great game, and
very addicting, but it does have a few bugs in it.
Program Bugs
If you try to do something the program isn’t
ready.for, or expecting, the game will lock up and dis¬
play a series of letters and numbers across the screen.
It’s probably a memory address or something where
the error occurred. Another bug is that your mouse
cursor will move to the lower right hand side of the
screen and stay there. There is no way to get the
mouse responsive again except to reboot Fortunately,
you can save up to five games per disk, and if you
save a lot, when the bugs do bite, it’s not as painful.
The game comes on two copy protected disks, and
will not run from a hard drive. A nice touch is that if
you have two floppy drives, it will use the second
drive for your save game disk.
It’s Hard to Put Down
It took me over 20 hours of play to complete the
game, so be prepared to spend a lot of time in front of
Page 58
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
your monitor. It’s hard to put it down, as you are al¬
ways wanting to coloni7.e one more planet, research
the newest device, or build the newest spacecraft. It’s
only when your mouse hand starts to cramp up that
you realize you’ve been playing for five hours straight!
Deuteros really gives you the feeling of “being
there,” and although most screens are static, it fits the
play of the game perfectly. Sound is limited to weird
background type noises that also complement the
game nicely
If you liked Millennium 2.2 or Utopia, you’ll love
Deuteros. Deuteros was tested on a Mega STe with
TOS 2.05, so it should work with all earlier versions of
TOS. It’s good to see software companies producing
products that work on all ST’s! I’d also like to give Ku¬
dos to Rising Star Computers for testing the game on
a Mega STe before mailing it to me. When you live
where I do, it’s a major headache to buy a piece of
software then wait two weeks to get it only to find out
it won’t run on your system. Thanks again! Deuteros
is by Activision Software and can be purchased for
about $43.
(Caution! Do not read any farther unless you want
explicit hints!)
Hints for the Commander
When you attack an enemy factory, send an l.QS.
fitted with a D.BC.C., but without enough fuel to make
the journey To figure this, set the course, then read
the E.T.A. Subtract the current time from the ET.A.
and use less fuel than the difference. When you run
out of fuel on the way disengage your engines and
you’ll drift. Advance time until the display reads that
you are falling. Select dock, advance time, and you’ll
nnd yourself inside the factory Click on the PANIC
button, and you’ll see a count down timer. Click on
the levers to the right of the readout. The first time
you do this, nothing will happen, and the factory will
self destruct. You lose a ship, but you’ll be able to re¬
search the self destruct mechanism. The next time
you dock at an enemy factory, you’ll be able to move
the levers and deactivate the self destruct mechanism.
Go to the store room and you should find a wealth of
drones, and a nifty matter transmitter that you’ll be
able to research and produce. This will work on all fac¬
tories.
Grab that Silver
Silver is your most important mineral. Set up and
protect a factory on Mars, and have several I.O.S.’s
mining the asteroids for silver. To get your first bit of
silver, send an I.O.S. fitted with a grapple to the as¬
teroids. It may take a while to find one small enough
for the grapple to handle, but when you do, grab it and
return it to Earth. When you get your first piece of sil¬
ver, produce at least 3 Asteroid Mining Attachments.
Send several I.O.S.’s back automated with A.C.C.’s and
Asteroid Mining Attachments to mine continuously.
Mercury and Venus First
Set up factories on Mercury and Venus first With
factories orbiting Earth, Mercury, Venus and the Moon
you have access to all minerals except Helium and Sil¬
ver. If you stay away from the planets beyond the as¬
teroid belt you won’t encounter the Methanoids. This
will give you time to build up your mineral resources.
Trading with the Methanoids
When you finally do meet the Methanoids, send
an I.O.S. with a grapple to dock with one of their facto¬
ries. You’ll won’t be able to understand them, and
you’ll have to leave. Check your grapple. It should have
an unknown object in it. Take it back to Earth and re¬
search it. You’ll be able to build a Communicator with
it. The next time you go back to a Methanoid factory,
take along the communicator and 2 supply pods full of
minerals. You’ll be able to understand them now, and
trade minerals. Here is a chart of what is traded for
what:
Iron Silica
Silver Platinum
Aluminum Carbon
Copper Titanium
Hydro gen*Methane
Deuterium Helium
Palladium Gold
The chart goes both ways i.e., if you trade platinum
the Methanoids will give you silver.
Beware of Warlords
Beware when your S.C.G. commander advances to
the rank of Warlord. If you leave him in command
long enough he will mutiny and take your ship to the
Methanoids. If you saved the game recently, simply
reload and rq^lace all Warlords with Admirals or Cap¬
tains. Keep your pilots trained by using them on the
shuttles. Even if the shuttle is using an A.C.C., the pi¬
lots will still get experience.
Mysteries Still Remain
I finished the game, but did not discover all the
items to be researched. I never did figure out how to
use the Fuzz Laser, and there were a couple of spots
open on my research list. If you use the technique for
capturing factories as described above, you will have
no need for l.QS. Drones. I had several thousand on
hand at the end of the game, expecting all out ar-
mageddon. If you discover all the items and how they
are used, Td like to hear from you.
If you need more help, drop me line. I live in
Naples, Italy, so it’ll have to be via snail mail. My ad¬
dress is: James Parker, 6th Fleet Band, PSC 817, Box
47, FPO AE 09622- 0400.
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 59
\
•Action with a. "Touch DntolUctual
^hulUn^o
Review by Alfred Charles Cnovetti
The sell sheet and advertising copy describe Gods
as a challenge to the intellect After a quick glance at
the box, the newly booted game showed the hero has
more muscles than Arnold Schwarznegger, and less
clothing than I did at the age of one minute. But this
hero does not appear to have any brains. Even so, the
game is intriguing and engaging, so we press on into
arcade heaven.
Gods places you in the persona of Hercules, who
is challenged by the Gods to survive the gauntlet of
perils found in a legendary city and emerge to receive
the reward of immortality. Gods is full of gratuitous
violence, with a bit of puzzle thrown in to make it all
the more challenging.
GodSj an action-arcade fantasy game, is the prod¬
uct of Bitmap Brothers, Renegade, and Konami pub¬
lishing partnership. Bitmap Brothers brought you
Xenon, Speedball, and Speedball 2, all games that
were played so much by my nine-year-old son that the
disks were worn out. Gods received no less attention in
our household.
Gods is composed of four levels: the city, temple,
labyrinth, and underworld. Each level has three worlds.
At the end of each level is an enormous guardian.
When you leave the game, you are given an individual
code that allows you to reset your game to the beginn¬
ing of the level where you are.
Gods is more than just an arcade game: it incor¬
porates many of the best elements of adventure
games. With character interaction, you can use mon¬
sters in the game to help you achieve your objectives.
There are three distinct monster types, each with his
own objectives and personality: the killer, the flier, and
the thief. The killer just wades into battle swinging.
The flier avoids your attacks while trying to land a le¬
thal blow. A thief can steal objects inaccessible to you;
but once killed, the thief will give you the objects. If
there are no objects to be found, the thief will attack
the main character.
The game has text that provides you with hints
and advice. Gods responds to your skill level by mak¬
ing the game easier for the uninitiated and more diffi¬
cult, with higher rewards, for clever solutions and ma¬
neuvers. Due to the individual nature of the “player
monitor mode,” each game is different. These differ¬
ences are manifested in the personalized codes that al¬
low you to save the game when you are between
1 The ST Connection is the only publication dedi-
;; cated to providing news and information on Atari
1 ST public domain and shareware programs.
QUICKVIEWS & UPDATES
MONTHLY FOCUS FEATURES
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for charts, posters, shirt designs, signs, etc. All images are ni-res
300 dpi graphics In .IMG format for PageStream, Touch-Up,
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The key to quick and easy, professional-looking forms and documents is Qwikforms , the only
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Page layouts include newsletters, letterheads, business cards, brochures, bookle ts, envelopes,^
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The STerling Connection
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To order by phono, call; 1 -800-624-2355
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Any 2 of above-$69.95
Any 3 of above-$89.95
All 4 of above-$99.95
Shipping-$3.00 ( USA)
All other-^.OO
Page 60
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
worlds. The code not only remembers where you are,
but your own individualized proficiency level and style
of play are encoded into this restoration code. This
“player monitor mode” makes Gods a special game.
Gods contains physical puzzles, object-oriented
puzzles, progression puzzles, short-cuts, reward puz¬
zles, and traps. The progression puzzles usually in¬
volve a progression of steps that allow you to move on
to the next level. The reward puzzles require more dif¬
ficult solutions, and the rewards are greater. The major
object-oriented puzzles involve keys to open doors to
other areas, or teleporters that open up hidden rooms.
Gods has a four-object inventory, which is another ex¬
ample of how the authors of the game have blended
two separate genre to form this remarkable game.
Gods even has a store where the hero can purchase
weapons, armor, and potions to help in his quest.
The 16-bit, 16-color VGA graphics appear to be
256-color, and are represented in surprising detail and
precise texture. The richness of detail and the ability
to go beyond the 16-color limitation make the graph¬
ics crisp and outstanding. The rocks look like rocks.
The muscles look like muscles. The animation is fluid
and smooth, with no visible stagger to the movements.
The sound is quite good on all the standard sound
boards, but the Roland is where the soundtrack shines.
The music was composed by John Foxx, former
member of the Ultravox band, in Rhythm King
EdHak
2.3
l or enCIre
ST IT line
Ldit ANYthIng A\Y Size ANYCime
A Desk Accessory PRC lo edU
Te\C. Data. Binary Files. Disk Sectors, R AM
New features include:
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• ( on\ orl buf f er lo hev for editinK dumping
• Support of Marl clipboard
• Auto Indent. Goto line. Goto b> le.
and man> other enhancements ?
\\allable from >our Atari dealer
or order dlrecll> I rom C lear Thinking.
Outside IS add $:) S H.
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Records sound studios (Renegade is founding partners
with Rhythm King Records).
Gods has already won many accolades, and has
been selling well. Gods has captured the attention of
the adventure game player and the arcade game player
alike. Gods may well win some very spectacular
awards. It certainly is one of my son’s favorite games.
If you like action with a touch of intellectual chal¬
lenge, Gods may be the game for you.
Gods Price: $39.95.
Versions: IBM, Amiga, and Atari ST.
Category: Action Adventure Arcade.
Ver. Reviewed: IBM and Atari ST.
Required: Hard disk, 12 MHz or better, DOS
2.1 or better, 640K.
Interface: Keyboard or joystick.
Copy protection: Hard-to-read dark-red code sheet.
Players: one.
Skill level: Beginner to intermediate.
Video: 16-color EGA, MCGA, VGA.
Sound: Ad Lib, Sound Blaster, and Roland
(enhanced sound).
Konami Inc., 900 Deerfield Parkway, Buffalo
Grove, IL 60089-4510. Telephone: (708)215-5111.
Bitmap Brothers, Unit Cl, Metropolitan Warf,
Wapping Wall, London El 9SS England.
^ THE ELECTRONIC CLINIC |
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i
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 61
Pacific Islands
HoW^ CofTVB Ali Gamc^^ Aien’t Uke ThU?
by Mike Hciningcr, (c) 1992
Pacific Islands, the yawnsville name for the en¬
grossing armored combat simulation Team Yankee II,
like its predecessor is one of the greatest ^mes ever to
reach Atariland with superb playability, excellent
graphics, and a friendly disposition that makes you
smug about having invited it into your precious com¬
puter system.
Unlike many games—rude beyond belief in their
paranoid copy protection and can’t*be*bothered atti¬
tude toward Atari hard drives—Pacific Islands is rea¬
sonable with copy protection and a pleasure to install
on hard disk. Copy protection simply requires identify¬
ing from the excellent manual pictures of three of the
eight armored vehicles in the game. How utterly civi¬
lized.
Your (Mission: Recapture Yama-Yama
The game could hardly be more enjoyable both
near-term and long-term. Since the world is now in
the wonderful position of having few black hat na¬
tions, the best villains this scenario can conjure are
(gasp) North Koreans and disaffected Soviet Commu¬
nists. The four Team Yankee tank units are deployed
to recapture the five Pacific islands of the fictional Ya-
ma Yama atoll seized by haven’t-gotten-the-word
Commies.
Yama Yama has been a US. communications link
for the early warning monitoring system (which obvi¬
ously wasn’t geared to the monitoring of this revolting
development). And we want it back.
Be Careful What You Blow Up
The Pacific Islands box must be forgiven for being
misleading as it shows helicopters, an F-15, and two
Stealth fighters in treetop level support of an Ml tank
landing on a beach. None of the aerial wizardry is in
the game. (And Stealth fighters certainly are never
used at low level in broad daylight!)
Casual disciples of mayhem can still have a blast
hopping from vehicle to vehicle to personally pull the
trigger on every enticing target in sight. But don’t ex¬
pect to “win” the game this way.
You see. Team Yankee II (strictly unofficial name
with infinitely more marketing arf) has become politi¬
cally correct. Warriors of the 90s, it admonishes, must
be more political and fiscal. So if you blow up any
“unnecessary objects” like islanders’ property, you
will be fined. No kidding. It is to barf.
The best warriors always have been heedful of
what to destroy and what to spare, even though pillage
and plunder no longer are fashionable. Wrapping this
axiom in financial penalties is degrading to profession¬
al soldiers. But ... it does make brownie points with
cost-crazed mufti.
You’ve Got 40 IMinlues to Win
So go with the flow and enjoy the game as best
you can with your own weird personal mental bag¬
gage. Again, however, if you want to “win,” you’ll
have to “achieve your objectives within 40 minutes.”
And that’s for each of the five atolls. As the excel¬
lent 72-page wirebound manual emphasizes, “You
may have won because you have reached a desired lo¬
cation, held a defensive position for enough time, or
destroyed the majority of the opposing forces.” And
vice versa.
(Money (Matters
Money is crucial to success. Campaigns begin
with $55 million financing. You can continue indefi¬
nitely until recapturing the entire Yama Yama atoll or
running out of money You get credits for battle victo¬
ries or destroying key enemy installations, but you are
debited for “gratuitous collateral damage.
You also have to pay to restock vehicles damaged
or destroyed as well as ammunition expended. Fun,
huh? Well, just accept the premise, avoid Attila the
Hun tendencies, and you should do OK without spend¬
ing more time on the calculator than the firing button.
What’s New in the Sequel?
Team Yankee has been reviewed by many sources,
so let’s concentrate on the differences of its Pacific Is¬
lands sequel. The manual’s two-page Chapter 11 in¬
cludes the following PI highlights:
• Play is not entirely sequential; no scenarios are re¬
peated at a more complex level.
• You control funding of your entire campaign.
• A minefield (250x250m) occasionally can be
planted—both by you and the enemy!
• The 3-D quadrant views add dead stop and zoom
icons (great for quickly halting to blast distant
hostiles). Dead stop is also added to the full¬
screen 3-D views.
• Objectives are more complex, e.g., destroy any
communications facility encountered.
Page 62
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No.7
• 3-D routines have been speeded up, allowing vil¬
lages to sometimes be created.
• Opposition control is now more intelligent.
• A genuine line of sight now operates.
• Tree-line camouflage is more acceptable.
A (Must Buy
Like its Team Yankee progenitor, Pacific Islands is
one of the few games to rate Must Buy. Emphasizing
playability rather than maximum technical realism,
Pacific Islands joins such classics as Lucasfilm’s Their
Finest Hour and Battlehawks 1942 as among the few
Atari games to be not only eminently playable, an op¬
timum choice between technical realism and game
pleasure, but eminently installable on hard disk and
eminently reasonable in copy protection.
Falcon remains the epitome of jet fighter air com¬
bat simulation but is occasionally cranky. MicroProse
games (e.g., F-I9 Stealth Fighter, Silent Service, MI
Tank Platoon, Gunship) are unequalled in strategy and
detail, but usually are difficult if not impossible to in¬
stall on hard disk. Many otherwise commendable
games are too technical, too hard to install, too hard
to run, too temperamental, or too ridiculous in copy
protection to enjoy without serious reservations.
So if you have the most remote interest in a thor¬
oughly pleasurable armored combat simulation, buy
Pacific Islands and join the rest of us in beaming,
“Now there’s a great game! How come all games
aren’t like this?”
[Pacific Islands was tested on a Mega ST4, TOS
1.0, with hard disL Works well with AdSpeed and
TweetyBoard. About $45. From Empire Software, 4
The Stannetts, Laindon North Trade Centre, Basildon,
Essex SSI5 6D1; telephone 0268 541126; fax 0268
541125.]
K J\f cot,
IVIv^
__. Your One Stop Sales & Service Center
( 310 ) 867^626
Mid-Cities Computers & Software 9406 Flower St. Bellflower, CA. 90706
“Keeping on Top
of your Desktop!”
-1
Desk File View Options
C:\MCSYSTEMS\SALE\V
19234 best deals in 1 location
Atari 1MB STE lYear Warranty $ Below Low
Atari 2MB STE 1 Year Warranty $ Below Lower
Atari 4MB STE 1 Year Warremty $ Below Lowest
Atari Falcon Color System?
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MegaSTE 2MB
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52 MB internal Mega H.D.
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1
i Atari SLM 605 Drum
$129
1
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$ Lower Still
1 Atari SLM 605 Toner
1 Atari SLM 804 Drum
$ 29
$154
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1 Atari SLM 804 Toner
$ 39
I
1 Atari TOS 1.4. 6/2 Chip Set
1 Atari TOS 2.06 Chips
1 TOS 2.0 6 Extension Card(s)
$ That Low
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t.UVWi 1 tfl
$149
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$ 30tn purchai.
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1 MC Systems 50 MB Hard Drive
$475
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$680
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1 MC Systems 88 MB SyQuest
$599
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1 Xtra RAM SIMM Board
$ 79
1
1 SupraFAX 9600 v.32Modem
$289
1 SupraFAX 14,400 v.32bisModem $ 389
i.
J Supra 2400 Modem
$ 89
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$ 99
1 TRR 5 M 1
c
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19234 best prgs. in 1 location
Warp 9 v.3.60 (in stock)
XBOOT (Easy booting)
DC Data Diet
ICD Clean Up ST
Disk Lable~Maker
EdHak 2.3(edit anything)
Hard Disk Sentry
Lattice C 5.5
HiSoft Basic 2
PowerNet (Networking)
TurboNet (Nodes)
FastCopy Pro
Ultimate Virus Killer (New)
Flash II
finriflftn\/iaui ^raorlo Alh
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$ 68
22
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1 234 best tools in 1 locatk^n
PageStream 2.2(Postscript) $ 199
Calamus SL (full color) $ 650
Cal-Assistant (on-line help) $ 29
Compo-Script (Postscripter) $ 275
PageAssistant(on-iine help) $ 39
ImageCat 2.0 (Pic Catalog) $ 28
Dr. BOB'S Modules(Qot'om) $ Call
Migraph OCR (IMQ.to Asci) $269
MegaPaint 2 Pro. $ 169
Avant Vector (Blt-2-Vector+) $ 479
Arabesque Professional $ 129
Convector Pro. (Blt-2-vector) $105
Sihlouette (Bit & Vector)
Fontvert
DeskJet Utilities Pack
MegaKem
ImageCopy
m
_ "Ldokl New Lower Prices"
0 :■= .
_ E:\MIDI\MUSIC\SALE\*.* I
54368934 best notes in 1 location
I Band in A Box Pro v.6
§ Cubase 3.01
i Cubeat
I Cubase Studio Pac(Midex)
1 AVLON 2.0
1 AviUonPeuVw A to D board
I MasterSoore 2.0 (Notation)
EditTrack Gold
I SMPTETrack Old. w/SMPTE
$ 69 EZ Score Rus(Auto-Notation)
$ 479 Digital Master EX (D-Z-D)
$ 283 Notator3.15
$1055 C-Lab Unitor 2
$ 387 C-Lab Export
$ Call Take Note (Music Educ.)
$ Low Hyberswitch (Multi-Tasking)
$ 79 StereoMaster Sampling (^E)
$ 349 Rolcmd Gear 10% overcost
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 63
f legend 1
1 Much a Inland “Thin^ g
i by Fred Pcrcival J
Anthony Taglione and Pete James wrote one of the
most successful ST games of all time. Bloodwych was
released in 1989 and was the best Dungeon Master
clone available for the Atari until I99rs Knightmare.
Now, almost three years later, the “Tag brothers” have
completed their second game. This new offering. Leg¬
end, is very different from Bloodwych. It is also much
less entertaining.
Third Person, not First Person
Isometrics is the hot look in ST role games this
year. Instead of a flat first-person view, you see an en¬
tire room viewed from an upper corner. Legend is
constructed on an isometric platform, with the party
of four rambling about the dungeon floors, moving
around and interacting with 3-D objects and oppo¬
nents. They open and pass through doors, open and
loot chests, throw levers, and battle bad guys.
The 3D implementation compares poorly to other
iso games like Populous, Breach 2, and Cadaver, how¬
ever. In these three games, consistent scale was sacri¬
ficed for viewability. Legend’s characters, as well as
objects, are scaled to be consistent with room sizes.
This means they are quite small—so small that details
are difficult to distinguish. Also, no walls are ever
shown in the dungeons; just floors and doorways. By
contrast. Cadaver features interesting walls and a verti¬
cal game element—multiple levels and climbing over
objects—that really make the environment 3D. Legend
is only 2D; nothing ever moves off of the floor. Over¬
all the atmosphere is not compelling, given the tiny
scale, lack of backdrops and ground-only animation.
One aspect of the game that is handled well is
movement of the party. The controls are Popu/ous-like
icons arrayed around the 4”x4” on-screen platform.
All movement is controlled by the mouse, and the
whole game can be played with mouse icons. Key
equivalents are available for non-movement com¬
mands, however. Like the game Drakkhen, you move
a character by clicking on a destination. If you move
one character, any others who are in the way will
move to let the leader pass. And, characters follow the
leader from room to room dependably. This is a huge
improvement over Drakkhen’s clumsy party move¬
ments.
The Four on the Floor
The four characters are the obligatory hacker
(Berserker), a thief (Assassin), a magician (Runemas-
ter) and a Bard. The Bard fights and can play tunes
that boost party attributes as long as the Bard plays.
He/she also knows a very handy ditty that heals
wounds. The Assassin can become effectively invisi¬
ble, so as to stab opponents in the back more readily.
The Berserker does as advertised, going into a slashing
frenzy when prompted. There is a LOT of combat in
the game, with randomly generated opponents appear¬
ing in hallways with mind-numbing frequency. Any
player who does not enjoy constant combat is going to
become bored very quickly.
Combat as a Spectator Sport
Combat looks like a square dance until you get
used to it. You just put the party into combat mode
and they mill around with whatever opponents they’re
fighting (with sound effects). At first it’s difficult to
keep track of which figures in the swarm are yours.
But you eventually become able to distinguish them.
It’s important for each character to use his or her spe¬
cial ability in combat, but you must manually select it
at the start of each scuffle. Doing this for each of four
characters gets old in a hurry. Combat spells are total¬
ly under player control; you select which spell and
where to throw it. Of course, the opposition throws
spells around as well.
You do have some limited control over party com¬
bat actions; for example, you can rally the group
around a beleaguered member, or have everyone flee
the room by clicking on the chicken icon. But for the
most part, after you “turn on” each character’s at¬
tributes, combat is something you watch rather than
control.
Runes and Reagents
The heart of Legend’s gameplay is the magic sys¬
tem. The Runemaster mixes ingredients and runes to
manufacture spells. Spells can have many compo¬
nents, achieving several objectives in one throw. Mix¬
ing complex spells is like programming a macro in¬
struction. This is all right, but frequent use of magic
requires a huge supply of materials, so logistics is an
important part of a Runemaster’s craft. The Ultima¬
like raw materials requirement makes magic use more
like assembly line work than craft An example of a
complex spell is “Heal, Antimage, Surround, Paralyze,
Continuous, Damage, Missile, Damage.” This single
eight-part spell would require the mixing of eight
runes and eight ingredients. The spell’s effect is to heal
the caster, protect the caster from magic, define the ar¬
ea of influence for the rest of the spell as the area
around the caster, cast a paralyze spell on those eight
locations, make further effects continuous, cause dam¬
age, fire missiles in aH directions away from the cast¬
er, causing damage on explosion ... all from one cast!
Page 64
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No.7
Rune Rooms
The game relies heavily on the complexity of
the magic system; many puzzles require compound
spells for solution. Common features of dungeon
rooms are floor tiles bearing magical runes. An ex¬
ample would be a room with the magic Damage
rune shown on some floor tiles. There is a switch
and a door in the room beyond some water, and,
therefore, inaccessible. Also on the far side of the
water are more Damage rune tiles and two towers.
Firing a "Missile, Damage, Damage” spell at the
nearby Damage rune tile causes the towers to fire
damage spells at some of the distant Damage rune
tiles. This, in turn, causes a new floor tile to appear
on the water, allowing your characters to reach the
switch. Throwing the switch rotates the towers; fur¬
ther spells and manipulations eventually allow ac¬
cess to the door.
Life Outside the Dungeons
There is more to Legend than the dungeons. Up
above on the surface there is an invasion by evil
forces taking place. As usual, some "strange and
powerful entity as old as the world is stirring in its
sleep.” Your party must defeat several invading ar¬
mies, and spend much of its loot to help the town
garrisons hold off the hordes. Exploration of the
many dungeons in the game is necessary to prepare
the four adventurers for the inevitable final confron¬
tation. The villages, towns and keeps have shops for
supplies and equipment, temples where characters
pray and make offerings for luck points, and taverns
where information can be had. A Guild, where expe¬
rience points are cashed in for level increases, exists
in one town only.
Too Much of a Bland Thing
Legend is an ambitious undertaking, with a
large scope and a decent, complex plot. The manual
is complete and informative, unusual for a Eu¬
rogame. The movement of the four party members
is superb. But the overgrown magic system, tiny
graphics and constant combat quickly caused me to
lose interest. 1 have played many good, involving
role playing games on the ST. Unfortunately, Legend
is not one of them.
Legend is published by Mindscape International.
It comes on two double-sided disks, with protected
formatting. The manual is much better than most
from Europe. Advertised prices are in the $40-$45
range. The game was released with a serious prob¬
lem. It does not save games on Mega SPs, and pre¬
sumably any machine running TOS 2. Mindscape
has fixed the file routines and has the repaired ver¬
sion of Legend available on request
^ FnT<>irilliin i»stlClrlesp|fFir:l [tc»olTe»tirL(i«<IS«vei rTl Htlal||ntHa
fllHHUtSM C)-SIIR|-2HII PKSM 2aig<ITMII .IZUU
--
I IH» m 0 M 1 1 « Iciwl Halt I II Htau
KDIICrilCyj
H4trix_
iTKtoriMTTgTngi
Lsc.i.r.[aii2ilSl
fNtlflr^ lav II [gul f
QX-.T»ir.
store II Patch II Prim
Siitilsl ! Sow floi<i I lutoTteo I ric>o fTeiit
r*rou] scoior high to Fcniiilab - if you do any cugiueeriug or sctciilific
calculatioo& ihcu you need this pfx>griuii.
* Numerical integration, differentiaiion * Systems of linear and non-linear
equations * Function optimization * Mean, s,d. * Linear regression,
correlation * Polynomial least squares * Multi-parameter fits * Unit
conversion * Real and complex roots of (up to) qunrtic equations
? Version 2.2 has new graphic capabilities. $63.
Desk Flic List Hap Plot Find Options Help
* 9000-*- brighter stars * 300 deep sky objects * Planets, comets, Sun and
Moon * Various projections, reference frames and maguificatious * Mapping,
browsing and database manipulation ♦ Object .search and identification
? Version 1.2 adds planet patli plotting and more. $43
ni CaPs little brother, a scientific
calculator accessory, with the most
powerful function set on the market
(95 total). $15.
An extra data ba.se with 40.0004-
stars iuid 4,000 deep sky objects.
For Star Base 1.1 or higher. Hard
drive recommcmled. $22.
All programs run ou any Atari .ST, Mega, ST^ or TT, color or monochrome.
All need 1 MByte of RAM.
Prices as shown include shipping. When ordering two products, deduct $6, and $4
for each next. Outside continental US please add $5.
Updates: first one free, then $5 each. Upgrades to El Cal 2.2 from l.xx; $20
Send a check ($US ou a US bank) or money order to
Debonair Software, P.O.B. 521166, SLC, UT’ 84152-1166
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 65
s Fore! Golf Simulations
I It A(i StaiktexL WitK LBodcic^ Bealed.
by Mike Heiningcr, (c) 1992
Nothing like a rainy day for enjoying an exciting
game of golf through the wonders of personal compu¬
ter simulation, right?
Well, sorta. Like all simulations, it depends a lot
on how much you like the real thing that is being sim¬
ulated. As a once- or twice-monthly peak season occa¬
sional hacker, I can take or leave golf. So my per¬
spective of the following four golf simulations^M/cro-
Prose Golf, Jack Nicklaus’ Greatest 18 Holes of Major
Championship Golf (and the world’s longest game ti¬
tle), Leader Board, and Mean 18^is pretty much fun
with an attitude: “Prove you’re worth my time.” That
viewpoint may be quite different from yours. But 1 bet
we can agree that most of these four fores offer some¬
thing useful that we can’t quite match anywhere else.
This is not an in-depth review. Instead, it’s the
kind of quick, casual appraisal we all make when
we’re not deeply committed, but still receptive to a
game. We’ll start with an overview, then compare ma¬
jor characteristics, and wind up with recommenda¬
tions.
Overview
MicroProse Golf, 1992, $45, is typical MicroProse
with an extremely detailed, informative manual (112
pages plus 2 Atari unique pages, 1 club card, and 6 col¬
or course cards) that guarantees it the Play Until You
Die Longevity Interest award. Jack Nicklaus (to
abridge the nine-word title), 1990, Accolade, $32, of¬
fers not only Big Name endorsement, but the Big
Name’s favorite 18 holes in all of golf! For everyone
who has ever wondered what a $125-a-round course
looks like, this is mecca. Mean 18, 1987, also
Accolade, cost not recalled, was popular with its
unique feature of allowing players to design their own
courses. Consequently many courses became availa¬
ble, even on public domain disks. I was given Mean 18
for Christmas in 1987, but its crude graphics and ten¬
dency to bomb early relegated it to the also-ran pile of
disks. Leader Board, 1986, $30, Access Software
(Bruce and Roger Carver), was the first golf game 1
bought, shortly after 1 bought my Atari 1040ST. Unfor¬
tunately, it is one of the first and last games using the
obscene and blessedly rare “security key” copy protec¬
tion, a plastic plug that must be inserted and kept in
the joystick port for the game to run. Consequently I
rarely play Leader Board, although when I do, it’s intu¬
itive and fun.
We’re talking about three golf simulations because
Mean 18 always bombs before I get very far into
ifusually about the second hole. I’ve also tried Greg
Norman*s Shark Attack (1990, $40, Melbourne House)
and Challenge Golf (1991, $30, On-Line Entertain¬
ment) at L&Y, but neither seems sufficiently better or
different to buy it. What is special about the three we
are talking about, and which is best?
Leader Board
With only one disk and no computer opponents.
Leader Board is fast loading, fast playing, and quite in¬
tuitive. Driving power and timing are the familiar ver¬
tical thermometer design; putting is also the same idea
in eight-foot increments. Wind and its direction are in¬
dicated by a logical stake and shadow which also show
height and direction of slope on the green. Lead¬
er Board's manual needs only 16 small pages. Aim by
holding down the left mouse button. Hit the ball by
clicking and releasing the right mouse button a couple
times. Choose one of four incognito courses. Play
medal, match, or best ball, but don’t expect Leader
Board to keep score on anything but the simplest.
No computer opponents emerge on Leader Board,
but it’s fun and quick to play your own human four¬
some with others or yourself. Categories of pro, ama¬
teur, and novice are distinguished by such variables as
whether wind speed affects play.
Graphics are nice, but flat and lack contour. The
biggest problem is inadvertent club change, selected by
rolling the mouse forward or backward. Well, I don’t
think Leader Board is much available anymore. Cost¬
ing $30 in 1986, Leader Board is still great fun if you
can find it
Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus, apparently Accolade’s heir to Mean
18, is fascinating simply because one of the three
courses is called the “greatest 18 holes of champion¬
ship golf.” That alone, since it reflects the opinion of
one of the greatest golfers, is niche enough to buy it.
But the Jack Nicklaus copy protection is the most
visually sadistic anywhere. It’s a wonder Accolade
hasn’t been sued out of existence by people blinded
trying to match black-outlined holes on a deep ma¬
roon sheet. Can’t photocopy it? Can’t read it either’or
just barely. Genuinely awfuPgenerating the hate few
products can survive!
Page 66
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No.7
Like MicroProse Golf and Leader Board, Jack
Nicklaus demands boot loading. Play speed is moder¬
ate, with screen refreshment an irritating left-to-right
slow curtain. Nine personalized computer opponents
are available, including Nicklaus himself and four
women, but often computer opponent play is madden¬
ingly slow'just as real golf can be.
Driving is by vertical thermometer, aiming by
aligning a ball at the top of the screen with the pin.
Putting is also by vertical thermometer, but hard to
align because the aim point is behind the hole. That’s
as absurd as aiming a gun as if the sights were behind
the target! Slope of greens is indicated by a circle with
a clocklike hand pointing to slope direction as a power
bar beneath indicates wind speed.
Play options are skins or stroke, each with two to
four players, at levels of beginner, expert, or profes¬
sional. Graphics are good, with some hill effect Club
selection is easy with vertical arrows. Sound is good,
even some speech, and OK on TweetyBoard.
MicroProse Golf
MicroProse Golf takes a long time to load, has
moderate play speed, and a difficult driving gauge of a
semicircle from 1 o’clock to 3 o’clock instead of the
familiar vertical thermometer. Complications include
nine possible lies from fluffy (top of grass) to plugged
(nearly buried in sand) and the ability to adjust tee
height, angle of your feet and placement of ball to¬
ward front or back foot
Calling itself 3-D, MicroProse Golf offers over¬
head views of each hole (as does Jack Nicklaus) with
ability to rotate view through four directions. The
main 3-D effect is achieved by ball flight monitored
from one of five camera positions reflecting Micro-
Prose’s long experience with multiview simulations.
Six courses are included on the three disks, which
have 11 play options: medal, skins, head-to-head, tour¬
nament singles, three ball, four ball, best ball three
or four, threesome, or foursome. Players can be hu¬
man or computer, novice or handicapped based on
past scores (default is 28 handicap).
MicroProse Golf offers good graphics, game
saves, statistics, and driving aim. MicroProse Golf al¬
so features saving up to six player profiles, 12 replays,
and 12 game positions; righthanded or lefthanded
players; and automatic distance in putting (i.e., click
when the horizontal putting thermometer color reach¬
es the tick marks).
That automatic distance putting seems to negate
many of the comparatively more difficult options
available in the driving, pitching, and chipping, but
sinking a putt is surprisingly difficult in spite of con¬
tour grid and behind-the-hole viewing options. Weird¬
ly, no player is seen when putting in MicroProse Golf,
adding to the paradoxical ho-hum let’s tap it in atti¬
tude toward what can be the most demanding aspect
of golf. Screen refreshment is fast, and club selection
usually is automatic.
And the Winner Is...
So which of these three golf simulations do I play
the most? Frankly, none of them. To be excruciatingly
honest, 1 rarely go more than five or six holes any
time 1 play any of these golf simulations. Which re¬
flects my casual interest in golf, not the merit of the
simulations.
But 1 do know enough golf to know what to enjoy,
so just as in real golf, the infrequent times 1 play them
1 enjoy ... all three: MicroProse Golf, Jack Nicklaus,
and Leader Board.
This in itself is a selection, not a copout. Note 1
was given Mean 18 but do not play it because it bombs
frequently. Note 1 tried but did not buy Greg Norman’s
Shark Attack and Challenge Golf. Others might prefer
them; 1 don’t.
leader Board reminds me of Advanced Destroy¬
er Simulator and Sherman M4'not the most complex
games, but easy to intuitively enjoy. Jack Nicklaus is a
nice middle ground, sort of like Team Yankee and Pa¬
cific Islands tank simulators.
And MicroProse Golf! “MicroProse” says it all'in-
structional, educational, fairly technical, and the most
long-range potential because of its complexity, which
also makes it the most short-range deferrable.
If 1 had to buy them in sequence instead of con¬
currently, I’d go from most simple to most complex:
Leader ^ard. Jack Nicklaus, MicroProse Golf Each
has at least one major irritant: the copy protection plug
in Leader Board, the copy protection blinding black
on deep maroon paper in Jack Nicklaus, the half¬
moon swing thermometer in MicroProse Golf.
Most of all, this shows the importance of niche
marketing. It is rare to find any single product so good
it completely overshadows all competitors. What is
more appropriate than golf simulations to remind us,
“Different strokes for different folks”?
Played on a htoga ST4 with TOS 1.0, cold boot
from Drive A only. Leader Board availability uncer¬
tain; marketed in 1986 by Access Software Inc., 2561
S 1560 y/. Woods Cross, Utah 84087. Mean 18 availabil¬
ity uncertain; marketed in 1987 by Accolade, 20833
Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino, CA 95014; tele¬
phone (408) 446-5757. Jack Nicklaus from Acco¬
lade, 550 S. Winchester Blvd., Suite 200, SanJose, CA
95128; (408) 296-8400. MicroProse Golf from Micro¬
Prose, Unit 1, Hampton Road Industrial Estate, Tet-
bury, GIos. GL8 8LD; telephone 0666 504326; fax
0666 504331.
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 67
Multi play
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Alatk
Exploration y
^lAcovotif y and
tactic o.
Designed for
children 5-11.
Review by Bill Moes
In education the most teachable subject, both in
school and at home, is math computation. Very young
children often learn beginning concepts by counting
common objects. Many of us learned the basic facts
by penciling down short marks and placing them into
either larger or smaller groups. Using variations, the
basic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplica¬
tion, and division can be understood.
While these steps can help us see the truth behind
the abstract, there is still a need for the drill, the prac¬
tice. Making three marks in one circle and then mak¬
ing four marks in another circle may show us that
there are now seven marks all together, but how
quickly can we answer the problem “3 -t- 4”? It takes
effort to learn all the basic facts we need to know.
And when we see that 2 X 5 = 10 and 3 X 5 = 15
and 4 X 5 = 20 and 5 X 5 = 25, we’re beginning to see
a pattern for multiplying by five. Math patterns help
us learn and remember the basic facts
more quickly.
Games and programs in math com¬
putation have always been popular and
common on computers. Beginners’ texts
in computer programming, whatever the
language studied, almost always deal
with numbers and basic operations in the
early chapters. And many of us, as we
learned BASIC or another language, prac¬
ticed by writing a math drill program for
our own children or for our own amuse¬
ment.
Multiplay, a recent release for the
Atari ST, offers children aged 5-11 the
chance to explore and discover number
patterns for addition and multiplication.
along with the opportunity to practice basic facts or
simple problems.
The program comes on two single-sided disks,
one for addition and one for multiplication. The de¬
tailed 28-page documentation booklet explains the
easy process of combining the two onto one double¬
sided disk and selecting from a handful of options de¬
signed to tailor the auto-loading program to each
child’s needs.
Those options include offering problems with
numbers from 0-9, 0-19, or (with a 1-meg ST) 0-29.
It’s possible to print the problem grid shown, either
with or without some or all of the answers. A puzzle/
game section allows one or two players to fill in the
grid with colors as problems are answered; and there’s
an option available to make additional puzzles. An
exit to desktop is also a possible option. A color moni¬
tor is required.
Page 68
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
The Pattern Screen
A 10 X 10 grid is shown. If numbers
available range 0-19 or 0-29, arrows are
displayed for movement to various sec¬
tions of the grid. All or some answers
may be shown or hidden. By clicking on
a column or row, that entire column/row
may be filled or blanked.
It’s possible to take a lO-problem test
on problems; simply click on a box and
then key in the answer. If there’s a mis¬
take, a second chance is offered. Color is
used to shade the problems answered cor¬
rectly or incorrectly.
A 10 X 10 grid may be printed with
any printer that accepts an ST screen
dump. (If your printer does not work with the print
option, you’re encouraged to contact the authors for
assistance.) The printed grid may include blank spaces
for practice or may have some or all of the answer
blocks filled.
A real key to using this pattern screen effectively
is for the parent or teacher to encourage the child with
suggestions andgoals. There’s a three-page section in
the documentation offering ways to look for patterns
and ideas for the child to explore. It’s a most impor¬
tant section.
scenes. Up to 50 puzzles may be saved to disk. Then,
when a child wants to play a puzzle screen, he may
choose to play either screens selected from the origi¬
nal disk or those designed with the puzzle maker.
A puzzle editor is also provided on the program
disk to delete puzzles no longer wanted. When this ed¬
itor is used, each puzzle created with the puzzle
maker is shown and you’re given the option of remov¬
ing it from the file.
Summary
The Puzzle Screen
A one- or two-player game is available. Each play¬
er enters his name and a puzzle is selected. Once the
puzzle grid is shown, the player clicks on a grid block
and keys in the problem answer. If the answer is cor¬
rect, that block and all other blocks designed with that
color are filled with color. Play continues until the de¬
sign is complete. As it’s completed, a small version of
the design is created in the upper left of the monitor’s
screen.
Again, arrows allow movement to different areas
if it’s a 0-19 or 0-29 grid. Scores are based on the
problem’s answer, so the problems with higher answ¬
ers yield higher scores. Of course, they may be harder
to solve, also.
Problems may be displayed horizontally or verti¬
cally to the left of the grid and the scores are shown
above the grid. The best scores are saved to disk, with
a separate file for each operation and for one- or two-
player versions.
In addition to using the puzzle screens already
prepared on the disk, it’s possible to make your own
puzzle screens. A 10 X 10 grid is shown and each
block is painted one of 13 colors.
While 100 blocks do not allow great variety, it’s
possible to creatively design some interesting puzzle
Multiplay ($40.00) is an interesting and worth¬
while addition to the library of learning software for
the ST. It lacks any timed drill in math facts, but soft¬
ware for that more direct drill-and-practice is already
available.
Multiplay offers children the opportunity to learn
some of the basic patterns in our number system
while addition and multiplication facts are studied.
The puzzle screen should be enjoyed for its colorful,
often surprising, scenes and for the opportunity chil¬
dren have to create their own math-related pictures.
The software is easily used and, with the installa¬
tion program, it’s possible to provide different options
for children of different abilities. As is true with most
learning software for children, those who benefit the
most will be those whose parents or teachers provide
some channels to explore.
D. A. Brumleve, the program’s author, has pub¬
lished a series of software for young children. Other
programs she has available include: Kidpainter (graph¬
ics and paint...$35), Kidpublisher Professional (desktop
publishing ... $40), Super Kicigrid (graphics de¬
sign ... $25), and Telegram (silly song player ... $25).
She has also released many programs available on
public domain disks. Her target audience is children
aged up to about II.
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 69
&man
{Dorld
1 am a survivor of College, spc
ciflcally in the field of computer sci¬
ence. G have this piece of paper that
says I’m a “Bachelor of Science" in
“Computer Science” ... “bach¬
elor” ?!? What’s Sandy going to s^
about than Wait a minute, she has
one, too! Bachclorcttc?) Anyway, as a
survivor, one of those who climbed out
of the smoking, cratered, Iraqi-likc ru¬
ins of a higher educational institution,'
dressed like Mad Max in the Road
Warrior, my dog “Dog” at my side,
(complete with my knee brace!), and
now as a person with 12 years perspec¬
tive on my internment in the concen¬
tration arena, I feel I should at least try
to pass along a few words of advice to
the young folks who arc going to a
school, possibly for the first time, this
year. In that w^, I can possibly pre¬
serve some fairly valuable knowledge
and “pass it forward.” I'wo Routes
What is college for? Well, the
way I had it explained to me, you can
do one of two things. You can get out
of high school, have no “piece of pa¬
per,” and not be able to get a high-pay¬
ing job. You then end up doing exciting
things like mowing lawns, flipping
burgers, and running people’s charge
cards at gas stations. G about to
say “pumping gas,” but that would
date me!—I did that.)
This is not optimal.
Or, you can go to college. There,
something happens (no one really tells
you much about it, except a few tanta¬
lizing details of beer busts, women,
and Finals, sort of like an R-ratcd
movie), and you get your “B.S.” paper.
With this paper, you arc then snapped
up one of a hundred companies
who actually come to the school ...
whoa! ... to talk toyou ... and pay you
big bucks to come program for them.
This seemed more optimal to me.
I did this.
Goin’ to School
Rule One: This is not the way it is.
The Other Routes
What I was not told was that there
were other options. For many peopie,
going straight from high school to col¬
lege doesn’t work, and it’s hard to ever
try again. Some of the happiest people
I know took a year or two off, worked,
travelled, didn’t work, got a little per¬
spective on what the world really was
like (high school has little to do with
real world), then went to college.
Some of the very best hackers I
know of just considered college a
waste of time; they were already busy
designing musical synthesizers for Ap¬
ple 11’s or disk duplicators and accu¬
rately measuring magnetic flux events
on (loppy disks every 62.5 nanosec¬
onds (billionths of a second). The fin¬
est hardware and software person 1
have ever known went this way, and
pretty much docs what he wants; I had
the luck to be on his computer system,
and thus in his user group, while I was
in high school, and so I found some¬
thing I could do with myself: creating
on a Hewlett Packard 2000C’ time¬
sharing system.
Or take (for example) someone
like our own fairly awesome Dave
Troy, who is in college right now, but
also running a respectable business as
an Atari dealer, doing real-world
things in business and mixing them to¬
gether with the quite unreal world of
college. Dave reminds me, oh, of
some of the hottest rock from the band
Boston, and I have no problem telling
you that one of the reasons I enjoy
Current Notes so much is what Dave
writes here.
Well, back to college, assuming
you decide to go ... and can afford it.
You do realize that the average age of
people in the USA is now 33, and that
by David Small
Copyright 1992
(All rights reserved.)
employers arc desperate to latch onto
qudified young people who might
want to stick around awhile; they’re
hard to find! Hence, you might find
that spending two years for a “lesser”
degree, and some real world experi¬
ence in computers (repeat after me:
Lotus 1-2-3y Vbrd Perfect^ dBase ...
and a little experience with PageMak
er, a Mac, and a LaserWriter is great)
might just be the ticket.
None of your Atari experience is
going to hurt you in any event. You
may get real annoyed with other com¬
puters and the stupid way they do
things, compared to the Atari, but the
Atari can really often serve as a model
of how to get things done. Just seeing
“Folders” in a window, instead of
“subdirectories,” cleared up the con¬
cept of folders/subdirs for a friend of
mine instantly.
rhe Real iruth
In your first year of college,
you’re going to discover that you’re not
in Kansas anymore, Toto (assuming
you’re not going to Kansas State.)
There is some pretty weird stuff going
down here, that is Real Different.
The first thing is this 1984’esque
thing called “grades.” Let me explain.
You’re given a “grade” on your work,
test scores, how many times the
teacher sees you coming for help,
whether you sit in the front row so he
remembers your face, and so on. Con¬
sider this amazing thing: a “C” grade
is considered “average” ; it is a 2.0 on
the “grade point” scale. If you make
all C’s, you are (theoretically) doing
“average” ; half the people are above,
half the people are below you.
* Yet, 2.0 is the cut-off point where
they kick you out of school; I know it
well, for my first semester was a 1.8. (I
plead culture shock). I was on aca-
Page 70
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
demic probation my second semester,
but pulled the net GPA up past 2.
Now, what’s wrong with this pic¬
ture? You sec it. If you’re “average,”
then you’re 50th out of a 100; there arc
50 people below you in grade point
who are supposed to flunk out, every
semester, twice a year.
This means that each school year,
with its Fall and Spring semesters, the
school population should decline by
half twice; after four years, assum¬
ing 100 people entered the school,
0.3907 people should graduate. (Go
ahead and do the math—divide 100 by
2, 8 times for the 8 semesters. 0.3907
of one person is left.)
Rule 2: Grades are of a different reality,
like quantum particies.
Yet we still see gymnasiums full
of grads, so, obviously, more than four
tenths of one made it through the
eight-semester gauntlet. Hence, there
is an amazing gap between grades and
reality^ and you should lose any notion
instantly that grades mean anything in
the real world. They do not. And you
can have it work for you, or against
you.
Rule 3: College grades should be con¬
sidered as nothing more than one
ASCII character, and not representative
of your intelligence, skill, or willing¬
ness to work.
Examples, both ways: In one par¬
ticularly boncheaded computer class,
the instructor assigned us the writing
of a computer program, by hand, in
class, as a 1-hour test. I wrote it up and
checked it as best I could. When he
graded it, he marked it “wrong” in an
obviously correct subroutine. I took it
to him, and we sat down and
line-by-line executed the WHOLE
PROGRAM. Where he had marked
“wrong” ... well, he WAS wrong, so I
suppose it was correctly marked.
<chucklc> Alas, near the end of the
code, I made a simple mistake, so he
looked at me and said, “I just knew
there was a mistake here somewhere.”
Reality Check: How many com¬
puter programs ever run on the first
try? Is this something to grade on? I’ve
done it once (the Neil Young story I
have often told is true).
Rule 4: Professors stoop to incredible
lows to find ways to assign grades, be¬
cause they have to.
So I got a bad grade in that class,
having something of a reality and atti¬
tude problem with it. And I just loved
the other class where the school’s
budget could only afford NAND chip
gates—so we had to build up every
other type of gate out of NAND’s to
make circuits (which you can do—Sey¬
mour Cray built the Cray-1 out of ECL
NAND gates). But we spent 90% of
the time on “busy work,” cobbling to¬
gether “OR” gates and later, tearing
them back down.
In another class, the class’s text¬
book was, well, the teacher’s, and not
finished yet. We literally got 8 1/2x11
photocopies of the manuscript^ little
hand-drawn diagrams, and we got to
“beta test” all the bugs in the book
(there were lots), for no pay. Of
course, the book cost full price. An¬
other downcheck.
Rule 5: Remember; you’re paying for
this.
On the other hand, you can make
this stupid system work FOR YOU,
with the magic of “Independent
Study.” This is where you become
friends with a teacher and cook up a
three or four credit-hour self study on
whatever really turns you on. I did one
of these on an ARP-26(X) synthesi'/er
(yeah, I know...) and made a
two-minute demo tape for my “grade”
; I put all sorts of technology into that
tape, from a feedback-driven guitar
sustain to a wah-pcdal controlled by a
light-sensitive resistor controlled by a
light bulb on the outputs of a Sher¬
wood amp; I fed the Sherwood a sine
wave, accelerated its frequency, and
made this ...SOUND... that gave me
goose pimples, and which I’ve been
known to put on Mac Emulator release
disks as a hidden dedication page. I
had great fun, stretched my knowl¬
edge, and the ARP’s transistors, to the
very limit, and I got a four credit A.
Those four credit A’s arc like the
“healing” potions in dungeon games;
they offset those “D” things in dwee-
bo-taught computer classes.
This is the best secret I can give
you to make it through college rela¬
tively unscarred. Independent Study.
Rule 6: If the classes are meaningless,
make up your own. At least you will
learn somethingl
It is the only reason I graduated,
with one of the lowest GPA’s ever suc¬
cessfully graduated at that school.
However, I learned a great deal that
came in handy in my career, as it
stands, far more than if I had stuck to
The Standard Curriculum.
Get to know the professors;
they’re people, even if they’re a little
weird. Be pleasant to the crazies, but
really get to know the nice ones. There
are always a few decent ones who
want to sec someone try something
new on a self-study. Some of the pro¬
fessors there really are trying to ex¬
pand knowledge; others are playing
politics, yada, yada. (“Yada” is a
trademark of Gary Hudson.)
I also did a self study on assembly
language of the school computer main¬
frame. I learned a lot. Oh, my, did 1
learn a lot. Did I ever learn a whole
big amazing lot. About memory parti¬
tions; about supervisor control pro¬
grams; about how companies really
ought to think before allowing time-
share on a formerly batch-only system,
and the weaknesses that show up
therein.
Rule 7: Sometimes you can learn
something important.
Why, I’m shocked to tell you that
the operating system code for the
whole shebang becomes a local file if
you stop a FORTRAN compile from a
timeshare terminal (which could not
happen in batch, sec, so they never
covered that weakness), and can be
disassembled, and studied, night after
night, at your room. A bit of study of
that code is very interesting. Buying
some 1600 bpi magtapes ($15 each)
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 71
helps; check them in under a
pseudonym!
You see, that whole ridiculous¬
ness of grades, sadly, means you are in
competition with your classmates.
Look, the teacher has to give some
low grades, some high grades, and a
lot of middle grades, and will invent, if
necessary, a way to do so (}\kc writing
programs in class).
Rule 8; Grades are there only because
they have to be; even if everyone is ex¬
cellent, someone has to get low
grades, someone has to get high
grades.
I learned about this competition in
a particularly graphic way: trying to
get enough computer time to debug my
programs, in competition with my
class. When the 50-odd students in my
class descended on the computer cen¬
ter, it could take hours for your pro¬
gram to move through the “Input
Queue” and run once. This made de¬
bugging impossible; look, we were
writing heavy stuff, like assemblers
and compilers! Many good people
burned out string up all hours when
the computer ran somewhat faster.
Rule 9: Well, in that one way, college
trained me for real life.
Unless, of course, you had studied
the assembly language of the comput¬
er’s scheduler, and specified a very
small memory partition for your pro¬
gram; the default size was set wrong.
The system scheduler was built to “fill
holes” in computer memory, and small
partitions were a dream come true for
the scheduler; it could fit my programs
in when my classmates, with their
(huge) 55K Pascal jobs, could not. I
could typically get in as many runs per
hour as I could debug (just like using a
micro), and they’d get one per hour,
with lots of head-scratching debug¬
ging.
The system scheduler also had an¬
other “feature.” The setup was, it kept
X users in memory, running their pro¬
grams. When you had been in memory
for 10 seconds, and gotten some CPU
time, you were “rolled out” to disk
and left there to rot a long time, be¬
hind everybody in the input queue.
Well... press the BREAK key. The sys¬
tem must process your interrupt; it
asks you if “you’d like to continue”
(press y, RETURN) or abort (press n,
REl'URN). Press y,RETURN. Get
this: Because the system had to proc¬
ess your interrupt, you are now back in
memory, for a new 10 seconds.
And guess what you do 10 sec¬
onds later, and 20, and until your pro¬
gram finishes.
Thank heavens more people didn’t
figure this out until Finals week when
the computer lab work was done.
There is no w^ I could have gotten
the programs done without this, and
other tricks. I was very busy, taking
many classes, trying to make enough
credits to get out of there.
Stress
The stress of this Aliee-in-Won-
derland grading really told on the peo¬
ple I saw. All their life they had been
told that grades really meant some¬
thing, that an “A” was important. Now
they were in a situation where an “A”
was impossible to get, because pro¬
grams cannot be written perfectly
without test runs in an hour or if you
simply cannot get CPU time to debug
your hashing algorithm. While other
things get blamed, ultimately it’s the
stress that wrecks a lot of people at
college. (Sure, it’s good preparation
for life, a boss, taxes, and such; no, 1
don’t think there is any excuse for it.)
You really have to find a way to detach
yourself, and after all the conditioning
of high school, it’s hard.
Rule 10: Dealing with stress is prob¬
ably the most important thing you will
learn, or fail to learn, to do at college.
One girl I knew overdosed acei-
dentally in college from trying too
hard for grades; the only reason she
started was to find some way to relax
and get aw^ from the stress. (She
eventually pulled through, but her life
was changed forever. At least she’s not
in college anymore.) It’s a bit dilficult
for me to be Judgmental anymore sinee
I learned that stress is far more likely
to kill you, and kill you young, than
anything else. And I’ve found far, far,
far, far more “recreational” and
“fairly necessary” “substance use” in
the computer industry than I ever saw
in college; if one person chooses the
“legit” Prozac route and another a,
well, different route to handle life
working at some well known computer
companies. I’m not going to hand them
flyers about “Just Say No.” Stress
kills.
Now that I’ve depressed you
about the futility of college, let me tell
you what it’s realty for.
College places you in conditions
somewhat eloscr to real life, e.g.,
combat, requiring discipline and disas¬
sembly (grin) to get through, and pre¬
pares you for what you’re going to find
when you graduate. What a “degree”
is really about is that a corporation
knows you can hang in there for four
years of dorm food and lousy working
conditions, so you might survive the
corporation for the two years you are a
drain to them while you learn the
ropes. Nothing more, but nothing less.
Rule 11: This means, of course, the
brightest and best, who won’t put up
with losing four years to essentially a
stress test, never go to college. Woznl-
ak went to college after making Apple
a huge success.
There are some good sides to col¬
lege, and if you work at them, you can
almost handle having to be there. (Pri¬
mal scream therapy can be helpful and
is often conducted at “football
games.”)
There are some fine young
women with this certain ... look ... in
their eyes, who go to lots of parties
and out on dates. I remember one
named Mindy at my school. Curiously
enough, about second or third year,
they appear sporting an engagement
ring, and leave school to get married.
This is done so often it is called “Get¬
ting a degree in M.R.S.,” and is the
first time I knew what a deer feels like
on opening day of hunting. You want
to talk about being eyed for husband
material. I’ll tell you about it.
Page 72
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
Rule 12. Some things cost some too
much.
Rule 13: Everyone wishes they’d dated
more in college.
Rule 14: Everyone forgets how terrify¬
ing it is to ask/be asked for a date.
You may find for the first time in
your life that there are a lot of people
whom you get along with, especially if
you’re one of the lonelier personality
types (NF, NT), who are 1 in 10 out¬
side of college. College particularly
concentrates NT’s, into computers, ar¬
chitecture, and science. Computer
people take note of this!
With any luck, you’ll take the hint
from the fun you had talking with
these people, in the late-night sessions,
and work somewhere where there are
more of them.
(I believe online networks are the
best we can do for many people in lo¬
cations aw^ from the centers.)
Well, That’s One Way to Do It
So what happened to me? 1 spent
the first couple of years fumbling
through until I steadied into a career of
independent studies and an absolute
minimum of the required classes,
which I thought were useless. (This
proved correct; mainframe theory ain’t
that useful these d^s). 1 tried living in
the dorms for a year, got tired of the
food, and lived with a couple of girls
the next year; (well, they were friends
and needed a third roommate to pay
the rent). This is highly over-rated in a
one bathroom apartment; however,
th^ more or less housebroke me.
(“You will clean the soap rings out of
the bathtub.” ) Amazingly, we’re all
still friends; one is now a programmer,
one is in England with two little girls
and her Air Force officer.
And I grew to appreciate dorm
food; it’s plain, but there’s plenty of it.
Don’t be too quick to move out; Com
Flakes for dinner is the pits.
And, through a friend, I met this
fascinating woman named Sandy Hei-
dlebaugh in my dorm, who had read
the same books I had and who had no
limits on her dreams and who knew
where Mordor was and her name in
Elvish. It’s still carved in the rocks up
the reservoir in the mountains.
The second two years of college
were spent around Sandy. Nothing else
mattered as much. Computers? Be se¬
rious. I learned a lot about living day
to day with someone, getting through
arguments and surviving, and in gen¬
eral, we both lost a number of irritat¬
ing qualities. That was the most im¬
portant thing I did in college, by far.
Rule 15: There Is no finer place to
“meet someone” than college, which is
essentially a concentrate of people
you’re looking to meet. Sure saves
kissing a lot of frogs.
And then it was over; we gradu¬
ated ... and I chased Sandy enough
that she finally caught me.
That’s one way to do it. Try to
make one uniquely your own.
Sec you next time!
Current Notes ST Library - New Disks for September
0730: ORCS: Otto’s Resource Construction Set, Ver¬
sion 1.0, Copyright (c) by Th. Otto. (See ST Toolbox
column in this month’s issue.)
073ID: Cyber Animations: Here are three impressive
animations to amaze and impress your friends: Gun-
ship, Lamp, Vidibat Includes animation player. All
files compressed. (Color)
0732: Music Studio Demo for the Roland MT-32, by
the Atari Users of N.Texas. Compiled by Marcus Ar-
reguin 6/92. You will recognize many of the 27 songs
on this disk. They are configured to take full advan¬
tage of your Roland MT-32. This demo requires a col¬
or monitor. But those of you who only have a mono¬
chrome monitor may play the songs back on a Music
Studio player.
«733: dbWRITER (M). Version 1.8 of the mono¬
chrome word processor now has support for the the¬
saurus (available on CN U734D). Full featured ST text
processor features spell check with the 40,000 word
dbWRITER dictionary (CN 07340), search and re¬
place, custom printer drivers, page preview, mail
merge, text block options, columns, custom interface
and more! Requires a minimum one meg of memory.
0734D: dbWRITER Dictionary/Thesaurus (M). db¬
WRITER 40K word dictionary and 30K word thesau¬
rus desk accessory (can be used from any GEM pro¬
gram). dbWRITER Desk Accesory Suplemental Dic¬
tionary Creation Utility and the seven supplemental
dictionaries: Math, Biblical, Computer, Legal, Medical,
Names, Pharmaceutical.
0735D: Terminal Programs: FreeZe Dried Software
Terminal V2.20, shareware by Aaron Hopkins. AN-
SITerm, Shareware by Timothy Miller Version 1.5.
**7360: Games (C): Moonlord ST, shareware by Clay¬
ton Wannum; Munchie VI.0, shareware by Robert
Dytmire; and Drachen Chineze puzzle game (English
version).
tt737D: Arena Earth (C). Win over your opponent by
catching him in traps or by direct confrontation. In¬
cluded documentation explains how to play. Shareware
by Tim Basham.
7381): TW Fonts «l: 42 (ARCd) fonts for That’s
Write: Avantgard, Anticap, Antiknp,... Karin.
739D: TW Fonts **2: 32 (ARCd) fonts for That’s
Write: Keltic, Kinder,... Yuppie, Zapf.
Disks are $4.00 each (10-t- are $3.5 ea). Order from
CN Library
122 N Johnson Rd
Sterling, VA 20164.
(703) 450-4761.
VISA and MC orders accepted.
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 73
Current Notes ST Game Library
Here is a complete catalog of game disks available in the CN Library of shareware and PD disks. We have completed a thorough
review of our game library, combining many SS disks into DS disks and eliminating marginal games. The m^ority of these disks
are now DS and, since CN disk prices remain only $4.00 per disk, represent exceptional bargains. Remember, disks are only
$350 each in quantities of 10 or more. Stock up on some terrific game software at very economical prices. Note: see the list of
new disks introduced this month for more additions to our game library.
#139D: MONO GAMES
ATARTREK - Atari Trek
BATTSHIP - Battleship
KRABAT - chess game from Germany
MAZEMAKR - Maze Maker
ORIGADV - a text adventure
POOLMONO - pool game with 6 balls
PUZZLE - PuzziePuzzie. a labyrinth in which you
move forward by completing each of several puz4es
WINDOW - Window Ball (like breakout)
#153D: ADVENUTRES
HACK - One of the earliest adventure games
EAMON - Eamon adventures (Beginner's (^e.
Devil's Tomb. Eamon Death Star. Holy Grail.
#209D: GAMES (C)
DARTS - Dart game written In GEA BASIC.
G_RANGER - Galactic Ranger arcade game.
MILBORNE - Classic card/race game
NIM - GEM-based version of NIM
STVEGAS - Four games In one! (Poker, Roulette.
Black Jack, and Slots)
TRUCKER - Text based game, get your loaded 18
wheeler to it's destination on time.
#211D: KID GAMES (C)
BARNYARD - Tiffany’s Barnyard, by Frank Hund¬
ley. Animals are hidden behind the doors. As in Con¬
centration just find both pictures of each animal.
DLXPIANO - Deluxe Piano provides a nice step
up from KIDNOTES.
DOODLE - one of the first drawing programs out
for the ST but It Is very easy to use.
KIDNOTES - Kid Notes allows a child to select
from a list of songs Oust click on the appropriate pic¬
ture) and then play that song by clicking the mouse
on the red key on the displayed piano keyboard.
KIDSKETC - Kid Sketch, a very simplified drawing
program for the younger kids.
KIDMUSIC > Kid Music, click on one of 8 pictures
and here a little song play.
KIDPIANO - Kid Piano, a simplified keyboard for
young kids. Click on the notes and here a piano or
organ play.
KIDPOTATO - Kid Potato, put together your own
Mr Potato Head.
KIDMIXUP - Kid Mixup. presents 4 pictures that
tell a story when placed in 8ie proper sequence.
KIDSABC > A^’s teaches the Alphabet Song
#213D: MONO GAMES
MEGAROID - Megaroids the Asteroids clone
RUNNER - Arcade game, pick up treasures while *
running from bad guys. Press button to dig hole (but
don't fall into it yourself!) Kill off pursuers by leading
them into the hole you dug. Get ail the treasurers
and move to higher level.
SPACEWAR - Fight a Klingnon cruiser in the
heavy gravity near a star.
SQUIXX - Try to wall as much of the playing area
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KRABAf2 CHESS from CN #213
as possible while avoiding the gobbling creatures and
the spikes.
ADVENT - Adventure writing system.
DALEKS - A variation of Robotron, avoid getting
caught by robots.
KRABAT2 - German Chess game with English
commands.
STOCKS - Version 2 of Stocks and Bonds board
game.
BREAKOU - Breakout clone ACC game.
ELIM - Shareware card game.
REVERSI - Othello Clone ACC game.
#269D: MONO GAMES
CRIBBAGE - play the computer in Cribbage.
DRAWPOKR - Game of draw poker.(C/M)
MEGAMA11 - Mega Ma 2 e 1.1 is an adventure
maze of sorts. (C/M)
ANDURIL - Anduril game
BALLER - Ballerburg
DIAMOND - Diamond Miner
INVADERS - Invaders game
SNAFU - The Snafu Principle
MONOEMU - Monochrome Emulator Program, al¬
lows you to run mono programs on a color monitor.
#2970: GAME DEMOS (C)
ACS - Amazing Construction Set. a drawing and
maze generation program, demo v1.01 lets you draw
shapes that the computer turns into ma 2 es.
SHANGDEM - Nice demo of Shanghai puzzle
HERO - Graphic adventure game.
#313D: GAMES (C)
AZARIAN - Beta version of a space shoot ’em up
game. Low-Res.
DGDB - Das Grosse Deutsche Ballerspiel. German
game similar to Shamus on the 8-bit system.
SORRY - Computer version of the board game.
ZOLTAR - Arcade game similar to Gaiaxian. Define
your own alien ships, flight paths, speed.
#314D: GAMES (C)
BULLET - Pilot your train fast enough to avoid
pushing train while watching out tor dead-end tracks
and box cars blocking your way. No Mega.
DAMONOID - The Damonoid arcade game. No
Mega.
#316D: GAMES (C)
CASINO KEN0 1.0 faithfully simulates keno
games in Nevada, allowing the player to mark on a
keno card up to 15 numbers out of 80.
#326D: GAMES (C)
BATSHIP - Battleship, play against the computer
CLOWNS - Monkeys and Balloons clone.
COREWARS - Core Wars (knowledge of assem¬
bly language programming recommended).
ESCAPE - Escape (adventure type maze).
FUN_LAWS - just for reading
INVADERS - Space Invaders for the ST.
#348D: GAMES (C)
A_SMASH - Atom Smasher, a breakout clone.
BLOCKADE - Alien Blockade, a Qix clone.
FLY_ROCM - Companion I, interesting arcade
action.
DPOKER - Draw Poker.
HAUNTED - Haunted House, arcade game demo.
TRIVIA - Trivia Quest.
BLASTERC - a Defender clone.
#356D: GAMES (C)
B0GGLE12 - Cadenza Bog Version 1.2, Boggle
clone with dictionary.
BOLO - A super game from Germany that is a
cross between Breakout and Arkanoid.(C/M)
EXTENSOR - This game is based on the movie
TRON. spedficially the "LIGHT CYCLE’ Sequence.
You are in a light cycle. As you (and the computer
controlled drones) move along you build a wall be¬
hind you. Hit your wall, or the drones wall and you
die! The option of the game is to box in the drone or
drones while at the same time avoiding getting boxed
in or hitting a wall yourself. If you get the other
drones boxed in until they run into a wall you win!
#360D: SIMULATIONS (C)
HERO - HERO! V 1.0, by Dan Winslow. The beauti¬
ful Princess Pulchra has been taken captive by the
really naughty wizard Baldur. The King wants her
back, and you being a real Hero, have determined
that you will rescue her. in order to do this, you must
find your way to the lowest section of the dungeon
and find the room containing the princess.
MIDWAY - Midway Battles, by Walter & Carol La
Foret. This is a complex game simulating the battle
of Midway but the mechanics of play are easy to
grasp. All input is done with the mouse; you never
touch the keyboard. The system requirements are an
Atari 1050ST. 540ST. Optional, an opponent, snacks,
and a book on the Battle of Midway.
RACE02 - Bermuda Race II. The objective is to
sail from Newport. Rhode Island to Bermuda in the
jeast amount of time. The normal sea-going obsta¬
cles may be encountered. The player reaching Ber¬
muda in the least total time wins the race and may
be listed in the players hall-of-fame.
Page 74
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
#363D: ADVENTURES
DUDLEY - A Dudley Dillema. You are a Harvard
Univ. student living in Dudley House in a quest for
knowledge, adventure and a diploma. This award¬
winning game is a very clever, humorous and chal¬
lenging adventure in the classic style of Infocom.
TARK - "ferk is the Priestess of the first church, in
her battle against the demon of dark desire. Based
on Dungeons and Dragons theme.
#3660: ADVENTURES
RAPTURE - Love’s Fiery Rapture, a torrid tale of
what could turn out to be the perfect date, a parody
of romance novels. (R)
SUSAN - Susan. A Lustful Game, is an adults-
only R-rated game where you attempt to score
points with your girl friend. Susan. (R)
RING - Des Ring Des Nibelungen. Vbu play the role
of Siegfried in an adventure based on the operas of
Richard Wagner, complete with a very tender and lov¬
ing Brunnhilde. A very unusual approach to an ad¬
venture game.
PORK - A parody of the Infocom game of ZORK. If
you were ever frustrated by ZORK. playing this game
is your chance to enjoy the sweet fruits of revenge.
#366D: ADVENTURES
AGT - The Adventure Game Ibolkit. This is a share¬
ware product that lets you construct your own adven¬
ture games. Complete docs included.
SOURCE - The source code to 9 additional AGT
adventures: Colossal Cave Adventure. Crusade. Elfs
Adventure. A Fable. Ghost Town, Paranoia, Odieu’s
Quest. The Squynchia Adventure, An Underground
Adventure.
#373: GAMES (C)
STRIP - Strip Breal^t. breakout game although
the paddle is on the right side of the screen and the
ball bounces horizontally. As the bricks are elimi¬
nated. the picture underneath is gradually revealed.
When ail the bricks are gone, a new screen, with a
new picture, is drawn. 27 screens in all. Adults only.
#383D: BASEBALL
BBALLSIM - Vbrsion 2.00D, (Demo version), of a
baseball simulation game. The American PaSTime
Baseball Simulator provides a rich and accurate
simulation of the game of baseball, from the view¬
point of the manager. Results are based on the actual
statistics of the players entered; variation from reality
will be approximately the same as the actual variation
players experience in real life. It is possible to play a
fully managed game in 10-15 minutes, or as many
automatic games as you like in less than a minute
each. Thus, it is very ea^ with this system (including
the input and statistics programs) to play entire sea¬
sons. using either real, drafted, or imaginary teams,
comparing the long term strength of teams, testing
theories of lineups, pitching, and so on. This demo
version has all features implemented with the excep¬
tion of the save data feature. Thus players do not ac¬
cumulate data from game to game with this version
as they do on the real version. (C/M)
BASEBALL - Statistically Accurate Baseball is a
shareware product that, like the game above, let's
you simulate a baseball game. (C/M)
#387D: TAIPAN II & MAPS
TAIRANII - Trave the world during early 1800s and
trade in different items and cities as you engage in
combat with enemy ships. (C).
EMPIRE - A collection of all of the maps for Em¬
pire we have been able to find, over 120 maps in all.
DUNGEON - Having trouble solving Dungeon
Master? Here are the maps that will help you.
#391D: MONO GAMES
BREAKOUT - Super Breakout. A very nice varia¬
tion of Breakout with an editor.
PENTIMO - terrific puzde that will provide you
with hours of entertainment. Place 12 pieces in box!
100-f solutions.
MACRAN1 - As its name implies. MacPan is a Pdc-
Man done.
#426D: MEAN 18 COURSES (C)
11 new and exciting golf courses for use with Mean
18: Stumpy Lake, Oval Creek, Bow Creek. Oceana.
Red Wing, Castle. Lee Park. Kapuia. Lunar Link,
Short Course (best short holes in USA), and Great¬
est (18 in US).
#428D: GAMES (C)
ECO - Fascinating ecology animation game.
ORBIT - Terrific break-out type game. (Not with
TOS 1.4.)
rocket - Rocket Patrol, a Missile Command
done
TRIFIDE - Gaiactica/Space Invaders type clone
#429: GAMES (C)
BLOCKADE - Alien Blockade, a QIX clone that
will keep you occupied for a long time!
A—SMASHER - Atom Smasher, another break¬
out type arcade game.
#431: KID GAMES
KP_DEMO - Kidpubllsher Prof Demo, a desktop
publishing program for young writers, by D.A. Brum-
leve, for Ages 5-11. The program provides a what-
you-see-is-what-you-get text editor and a draw¬
ing program. Each drawing is linked to a page of
text When printed, each page has a drawing on the
top half of the page with tiie text below it. The pro¬
gram works well with most dot-matrix, jet, and laser
printers. (Printing disabled in demo version.)
KIDPUB21 - An earlier, less fancy version of Kid
Publisher.
KSHAPES - Kid Shapes, for ages 2-8.
KSHAPESP - Kid Shapes Plus, for kids 8 and up.
#438D: MONO GAMES
TETRIS - popular falling blocks game.
MPOKER - Drav Poker, V25, try your luck at
cards.
DRACHEN - Dragon, a German version of Shang¬
hai.
SOKOBAN - This is a graphically simple, but in¬
tellectually interesting little puzzle game. Includes 42
different puzzle screens.
MINIGOLF - Put-put golf game from Germany
PBMCHESS - Play-by-modem chess game
GILGALAD - Adventure game from Germany
GNCIPHER - Cipher program, try and guess solu¬
tions
#463D: GAME DEMOS (C)
BLODWYCH - Fully-playable "Dungeon Master"
game by Mirrorsoft. Includes split-screen for two-
player simultaneous action. The demo includes only
level one of the castle and has no sound.
J3LOODMON - Blood Money, horizontally scrolling
shoot-em up.
WIPEOUT - Intergalactic Hoverboard Challenge
pits you against a host of hostile aliens.
FONEVOIE - Phone Voice, create crazy messages
for your telephone answering machine!
#478D: GAMES (C)
RGHTER - The STellar Sferfighter (arcade action)
FLIGHT - Flight Levels (more arcade action)
JUMPSTER-Q-Bert done
LUNACY11 - Lunacy! Vl.l, (no IDS 1.4)
SPACEWAR - SpaceWars VI.0, New Outer Space
Shoot ’em up game.
#479D: GAME DEMOS
HEROIID - Demo version of Hero II gaming sys¬
tem includes Dungeon Construction Set.
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 75
SWIFTAR - Limited featured demo version, 3 out
of 10 levels are active and will test your skills to the
full, at least for 5 games.
#500D: GAME DEMOS (C)
STARBLAD - Starblade demo may not work on a
Mega or with TOS 1.4. It works fine on a 1040 ST.
YOLANDA - you get to see a lot of screens, but as
soon as you die. and that will be quickly, a brand new
screen is shown. It will take some practice to master
screens since you don't see the same screen every
time your character is eliminated.
RICK ~ Rick Dangerous should also present a real
challenge.
#502D: GAME DEMOS (C)
PHOTON - Photon Storm.
AQUANAUT - Aquanaut.
GLOVES - Kid Gloves.
FUTURE2 - Back to the Future.
#505D: KID GAMES (C)
MOUNTAIN - This adventure game was designed
by grade school students, illustrated using Kidpainter,
and programmed with Talespin The game takes you
inside a magic mountain where you'll have the op¬
portunity to fend off a vicious dragon, pacify a giant
spider, etc. in your effort to make your way through.
TELLTALE - This is the pd run-time program to
run .TAL files generates with lalespin, the adventure
creator from Michtron.
SDI - Stranded on a Desert Island offers you any of
10 characters with different skills and weaknesses.
Choose a character, then use his special qualities to
help him get through a series of unpleasant tropical
experiences and reach the rescue ship.
#507: ADVENTURES
TADS - The Text Adventure Development System is
a programming tool for building sophisticated, pro¬
fessional-quality text adventure games. The system
consists of a compiler, a run-time module, a stand¬
ard adventure definitions file, and the source to Ditch
Day Drifter, a full sample game demonstrating the
system’s mary features. Req 1 Meg of RAM.
DITCH - Ditch Day Drifter is a text adventure set at
Caltech on its infamous Ditch Day. This game is a
sample of what you can do with TADS
DSD - Deep S^ce Drifter is a science-fiction text
adventure of Epic Proportions. Find your way off the
space station and explore the planet belc^. Visit the
Swamp and the Caves. Defeat your mechanical foe
and escape with your life. Written with TADS, the Text
Adventure Development System, this game features a
professional-quality command parser and many ad¬
vanced features.
#513D: Text Adventures
DSENCHNT - Disenchanted, an interactive fan¬
tasy.
EB_CITY - El Bozo’s City Out Of Bounds
KING - Once a King
SYSTEMS - System 5
#525D: GAMES (C)
GRAN PRIX - auto race arcade game.
#532D: GAMES (C)
STARTREK - STDS variation of the Star Trek
game. This game will NOT run on machines with TOS
1.4 installed!
\(ALGUS20 - Valgus V2.0, a 2-player version of
the Tetris - done game.
MINER - Maniac Miner lets you explore for under¬
ground treasures, but watch out for rock slides and
other obstacles.
#633D: GAMES (C)
COLLAPSE - Collapse (V1.1) is a falling block
game of the Tetris family but different You must try
to line up 3 or more block in rows vertically. hori2Dn-
tally, or diagonally. When this happens, block evapo¬
rate and columns collapse downward. The game
speeds up a little faster so over all games are slightly
shorter and more difficult, but bonus points are given
for large numbers of block knockouts.
YAHTZE20 - YAHTZEE V2i) is a slightly enhanced
upgrade of YAHTZEE 1.0.1 changed all game prompts
from keyboard to mouse and added the system date
to the player name for use in the high score file. This
is an excellent 1-6 player game that faithfully recre¬
ates the classic game Triple Vbchtzee.
JEOPARDY - Welcome to the PD color version of
Jeopardy for the Atari ST This program has been
written and revised to give the players an excellent
experience in testing their knowledge and a simula¬
tion of being a contestant on the real show.
VSQUARED - VblgusZ, the sequel to \^lgus. a pd
version of Tetris. In VSQ, the 7 familiar Valgus pieces
are back, but they are tired of failing straight dcwn
the screen! Instead, they will come at you from ail
four sides of the 27x27 playing area.
PILEUP31 - PileUp V3.1, the latest version of this
Tetris done has several features and is compatible
with TOS 1.4.10 game levels, 2 skill levels.
STTETRIS - another Tetris done
#534D: GAMES (C)
HACMANll - Pacman clone with lots of new fea¬
tures.
#535D: KID VIDEO GAMES (C)
KV^DDUP - This is an animated math program
for youngsters. Choose what operations (+,-,xy)
you want. Then choose the difficulty. Then begin!
KV_FONIC - This program introduces children to
phonics, it includes 9 puzzles containing conso¬
nants (b.c.d...). blends (sl 3 n.sm...) and digraphs
(th,sh...). You can easily create your own puzzles or
modify the existing ones.
KV_GEO_1 - Hypertext georgraphy. learn about
the solar system.
KV_MATCH - Flip over squares to match baby
and parent animals.
KV_ME1ST - Me First. V2.0. Interactive learning
games/stories for children. Includes documentation
and additional DAIA files for extended play.
(C)KV_ME2ND - A sequel to the first program,
this package contains an additional 24 stories.
#536D: KID GAMES (C)
RABBIT, SANTA CLAUSE. BURGER, CIR¬
CUS, ROBIN
#537D: KID GAMES (C)
AIKEN6 - Entirely mouse-controlled. MaWn’
Aiken is an illustrated version of the silly kids' song
"Aiken Drum." It has 8 verses in which Aiken’s body
parts are described (His hair was made of_); the
child selects a picture icon for the blank (green
beans, brocoili. etc.). A picture of Aiken is progres¬
sively displayed. 3 choices for each of 8 parts make
for many silly versions of Aiken.
KIDMIXPL - Kidmixup Plus is a kidprg by D.A.
Brumieve (Basic Vbrsion) and Ph. van Rijthoven (Plus
Version). The "plus" Is that you can new add your
own sequence files created with any DE6AS-com-
patible paint program. Three picture files by the au¬
thors (a total of 27 sequence themes) are included
with this program.
PRFMATCH - Originally a commercial program.
Perfect Match is new shareware. For 1 to 4 players,
you can choose from 8.16, or 24 cards. Select a
question, cards are shuffled and dealt. Player selects
two cards with mouse and tries to find a match. Turn
continues as long as player keeps finding matches.
Game ends when all matches have been discovered
or the timer runs out in 1 player game.
LET_HUNT - learn alphabet by matching letters
on the screen.
ENCH_FOR - Enchanted Forest, a variant of
both Shutes and Ladders and Candyland. suitable for
children 3 and above.
#539D: GAME DEMOS p
FLIMBO - Rimbo's Quest. This is a one level
playable demo of Flimbo’s Quest, a platform type
game with excellent graphics and parallax scrolling.
DEFEND - Defender II. a one level playable demo.
The complete game gives you a choice of playing the
original Defender, the original Stargate, or the new
Defender II. Unless you are an ace arcade Defender
player, this playable demo will give you hours of play¬
ing pleasure.
RALLY - Toyota Rally. This is a one course playable
demo of probably the best drivingAacing game yet
for the ST. it features excellent graphics and digitized
sound. Even the weather turns bad as it starts to
snow when you begin the demo.
#540D: GAME DEMOS (C)
SIMULCRA - Demo of a very cool UK game called
Simulcra. Arcade type, you are this "tank" and you
drive around a "3-D" map, blowing things away and
getting enhanced weapons.
SPELLDEM - This is a one level playable demo of
Spellbound by Psygnosis. It is a platform/collecting
type game. Nice graphics!
9LIVES - This is playable one level demo of 9
LIVES. It is a platform type game with excellent
graphics and animation. Not an easy game!
#542D: KID GAMES (C)
CREBUS4 - Rebus Writer allows the user to de¬
sign and print rebuses, a kind of code in which pic¬
tures and symbols are used to represent words. Both
color and mono versions provided. Note: the folder
MREBUS4 has a monochrome version of this pro¬
gram.
WUZZLERS - This game is a picture/puzzle game
somewhat like hangman. You are shown a number of
spaces representing the letters in a mystery word.
Page 76
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
SUPER BREAKOUT from CN #391
Choose from the letters of the alphabet to guess the
letters in the word. With each incorrect guess, part of
a picture depicting the word is displayed Mdu must
try and guess the word before the entire puzzfe pic*
ture is revealed.
KIDSTORY - Remember ’Little Red Riding
Hood"? Mere is that story with an entirely new twist.
The child selects a number of different objects before
the story starts. These objects will then customue
the story into a very different tale! Kids will have a lot
of fun creating their ’own* stories. A different story is
created every time the program is run!
#543D: GAMES
MIDIMAZE - MIDI-MAZE II. VIA is similar to the
original MIDI-MAZE program that allowed up to 16
players to play against each other by linking their
Atari STs via the MIDI ports. (C/M)
AKS - Alfreds Kistenlager Schiebereien, provides
you with hours of challenging puzzles. The rules are
simple: With the arrow keys, you control a worker
who must shove barrels around a warehouse and
place them in the proper locations.(M)
DREISSIG - a high-quality game of skill and
judgment distributed as shareware. ’Dreissig' is the
German word for the number 30. Dreissig is a dice
game for 1-6 players. In the single-player mode the
computer takes the role of the opponent.(M)
#547D: KID GAMES (C)
PUZZLE - Electronic Jigsaw Puzzle, use program
to scramble (in 25.64. or 100 pieces) your favorite
Neo. Degas, or Tiny pictures. Includes 14 Tiny pic¬
tures selected for their puzzle playability.
7KIDS -The Wolf and the Seven Kids provides a dif¬
ferent adventure each game.
BARNIMAL - A listening guessing game for the
very youngest computer users.
#550D: GAMES (C)
STRABBLE - Similar to crossword game Scrab¬
ble, although, in this version, you can play against
the computer (C/M)
NOVA - brilliant shoot-*em-up arcade game, simi¬
lar to Galaxian
#567D: GAME DEMOS (C)
HERO! - Game features hundreds of items and
creatures, and o^r 200 rooms to explore. Other fea¬
tures are multiplayer mode, modem play, macro lan¬
guage customization, full color backgrounds, real
time battle system, and a rich and complex character
development facility, text saeens as well as graphics,
many spells, and other features to numerous to men¬
tion here, the demo comes with excerpts from the
game documentation, and ordering information is
available at the end of the document file.
#558D: GAMES (C)
AMAZE - Dear the playground from the squares,
but don't jump aside.(C/M)
DRKCASTL - Dark Castle, a board game that re¬
quires at least 2 players, with a maximum of 4.
DUNG306 - V3.06 of Daniel's Dungeon! a maze
game that you must graduate to win the game! This
is playable demo mode and password protected to
get FULL mode (C/M)
REACTION - This game takes after the Arcade
game AIAXX and is very hard to bead Great strategy
game! STE and ST Compatible. Should run on 512K
ST with no problem.
SUPRMIND - Super Mastermind. You use logic to
determine the computer’s hidden code.
#560D: OfTHERWUZ (C)
OTHERWUZ - This program will not run from a
hard disk. Wuzzlers is a hangman game with a twist:
a picture hint is displayed with each wrong answer,
thus increasing the chances for success. This file
contains program and a data file with nearly 50 pic-
ture/word puzzles for the game. The .PRG file is the
same as that included with CN library disk #542. but
the pictures on this disk were designed by German
computer artist Juergen Reichenwallner. Words ap¬
propriate for 2nd grade through adult.
#663D GAME DEMOS (C)
BUGST - This is a one level playable demo of Bug
Bash. You must clear the level of all trash. Collect
trash by pulling down on the joystick and pressing
fire. Only one piece of trash can be carried at a time.
Fly over the trash can to drop trash. Use your insecti¬
cide gun to kill enemies and watch out for the end of
level guardian!
MSTDRIVE - This Is a 2-level playable demo of
Jupiter's Masterdrive. When the light turns green, ac¬
celerate by pressing fire. You can shoot the opposi¬
tion by pushing up on the joystick. It is a three-lap
race in all. On the second level, collect the ten bo¬
nuses before your competitor. Use the radar at the
base of the screen to plan your journey.
POND - This is a one mission playable demo of
James Pond. You must gather 8 gold bars from the
wreck of a large, sunken ship. You must take each
bar to the waiting row boat somewhere on the sur¬
face of the sea. Be careful though, as the shipwreck
is lodged in a deep, dark underwater cavern with
many monsters and meanies out to get you. Excel¬
lent graphics and gameplay!
CAPTIVE - Playable demo of Captive. An excellent
futuristic game with the Dungeon Master mouse-
view type gameplay. See the Captive topic for de¬
scriptions on game play and so on.
#569D: AIR WARRIOR
(c) 1991, Kesmai Corporation. This version of Air
Warrior has undergone very stringent testing between
the different computers (Macintosh, Atari ST, Amiga,
and IBM PC) to ensure that the flight performance of
the different planes is the same.
#574D: GAMES
SEASIDE - Here is a terrific which, like Concentra¬
tion, will test your memory against that of your oppo¬
nent. Try and match up the sea creatures and make
pairs to gain points. Many game variations included.
DRACHEN - \/2.0, is derived from an old game
from China. 144 tiles are built up on 5 levels on the
playing surface. The goal is to remove all the tiles. To
that end, one may remove any two matching tiles, as
long as each of them is free to move either to its left
or to its right (that is, there is no other tile "in the
way’ of the movement of each matching tile].
COLAWARS - By David Jolley, requires joystick.
Double-click on COLAWARS.SCK in GEM desktop if
you have booted from this disk.
SPLATTER - Patterned after ’Reaction,’ provides
more of an alternative for more players with a few
more options of play due to the increase in players.
Try and outwit your opponents by being the person
with the most tiles at the end of the game.
SPACEJET - simple arcade game with space
theme.
#575D: GAME DEMOS
VALGUS2 - VS, in VSQ, the seven familiar Vbigus
pieces as back, but they are tired of falling straight
down the screen! Instead, they will come at you from
all four sides of the 25x25 playing area. In the
graphics are much better; the pieces are larger and
more colorful: sound is much better. New, more chal¬
lenging rounds have been added.
MAH-JONG - This demo copy of the Mah-Jong
game, a Shanghai clone, contains a solvable example
of each of the layouts. The complete game will pro¬
vide an infinite number of games, all different! The
purpose of the game is to remove all the blocks, by
pairs, in 'record' time.
PIPEMANA - Easy! Stick a joystick in port 2 and
play. Three levels are playable up to a certian time
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 77
limit. Place the pipes around the screen to make the
maximum pipe length for the ever-ftowing flooz
coming down the pipe. (C)
WORDBID - Here is a fun and educational game.
Bid on letters as the word platform decends closer to
its doom. Graphics, sound, color.
BJP3DEM - This unique program simulates a real
casino environment. Explore every aspect of the
game of blackjack. More than just another game, this
program can show you why you have lost in the past
and teach you to WIN in the future.
DEBUT - A short “sneak preview’ of this new
planet simulation game. Not playable, only teases
you with what is coming.
#582D: GAMES (C)
DAMOCLES - Damocles is the latest release from
Novagen and it is a brilliantly absorbing game with
high speed, solid 3D graphics. Erin is the fifth planet
in the Gamma solar system, and in a few hours it is
going to be smashed to pieces by the giant comet.
Damocles. Your task is to fly to the planets in the so¬
lar system, search any cities you discover for objects
and clues and utimately, save Erin from impending
destruction. With nine planets and 19 moons there is
much to explore and many places to visit
LLAMATRON - An excellent Robotron-type
game from Europe. This is the 1 MB version.
#592D: MONO GAMES
BACKQAMM - Online backgammon for the mono
monitor lets you play over the phone lines with a
friend and a modem. Yau can a)so play against the
computer or setup custom games. Freevirare.
BLOECKE - This is a 3D Tetris game In German.
Don't worry, you can figure out the comands easy
enough. You need to use the arrow keys to direct the
3d blocks. Also you can select what rate of speed
you want them to go at. (C/M)
CRISCROS - Crisscross is a hybrid of GO. GO-
MUKU and OTHELLO. Great for kid’s! Incorporates
the ZeST interface for a NeXT desktop look and feel.
DAME - Renaissance (DAME) is a German game of
checkers. The game is inGerman but if you know
how to play checkers, playing the game is as simple
as pointing and dragging your piece to the square
you want to move to. You can play against another
person or the computer. You can even autoplay to
see strategic moves. This file contains an editor as
well. Quite a nice game.
GOBANG - A game of GOMOKU brought to you by
aE.WARE.
POKERSQR - If you like solitaire and you enjoy
poker, then you're gonna love Poker Squared. Runs
on any ST. Uses the ZeST interface for the NeXT
desktop look. Freeware.
PONG - Pong is a game that gives you a choice
between handball or breakout. Requires a joystick,
which adds a difficulty that you do not have with the
mouse.
SBREAK - This is a super breakout game that
brings you through various levels allowing you to
capture different options such as guns, a larger pad¬
dle. multiple balls and much much more.
ZESTPOKR - Here is another demo using the
ZeST interface (NeXT look-a-like). This game gives
you draw poker, high card and a one armed bandit.
Freeware.
#593D: GAMES (C)
BLOECKE » This is a 3D 'fetris game in German.
Don't worry, you can figure out the comands easy
enough. You need to use the arrow keys to direct the
3d blocks. Also you can select what rate of speed
you want them to go at. (C/M)
BOING - An excellent arcade game. It is very ad¬
dictive and has excellent graphics.
DMLTN_13 - This is Demolition Man 13, a new
version of the puzzle game by Clayton Walnum.
Changes in this version include: squares can be
marked with question marks as well as flags; Degas-
format screen has been replaced with smaller data
files; Program no longer bombs when graphic data
file is missing. One of those games that takes a
minute to learn but a long time to master, Demolition
Man is great for a quick diversion. (C/M)
FOOTBAL - Football, by Jeff Parkhurst. Try and
beat the computer. The play is nice even though you
are dots on a screen.
SNOWBALL - DC Snowball Fight is a two-player
game that simulates the thrills, chills and spills of the
popular winter pastime children ail around the world
enjoy when the Nintendo is broken. ST, STe and TT
compatible.
#6200: GAMES (C)
BEYOND - Beyond is a Tetris spin off. You must
match like parts rather than build lines. The program
is shareware. Demo has limited functional levels.
JEPARDY3 - Here it is... the final version of
Jeopardy. This pd program now includes a dispute
key so you never get penalizied for an answer which
is correct. Includes 4 new games to play. This is the
ultimate game for Jeopardy lovers.
MILBORNE - it's a race to the finish in this game
based on the French card game of Milborne. You and
the computer take turns drawing cards in an effort to
get to the finish line first. Throw an obstacle in the
way of the computer or deal with the obstacles he
throws your way. The first player to reach »5flOO
miles wins.
MONOPOLY - Here is the classic board game. It
is the same as earlier versions, however, it has been
recompiled with GFA Basic 306E and should now run
fine on the TT as well as the ST machines.
WARSHIPS - Fighting sail recreates the ship-to-
ship combat of the Napoleonic period. This single
player game has nice graphics and realistic combat
options. Based partly on /Walon Hill’s “Wooden Ships
and Iron Men.’
#6210: OFFENDER (C)
This demo is provided courtesy of Missionware Soft¬
ware for your enjoyment. The game is fully playable,
but limits the number of levels you can attain. TT
Compatible.
#6220: GAME DEMOS (C)
AMAZE - This is a port of a neat mm demo that
makes a great gee-whiz on high end workstations, it
draws and solves mazes in a self-running random
demo. You may also try to solve the mazes yourself
and compare your score with the computer's solu¬
tion. It makes for a fun demo and game combina¬
tion. Runs on ST orTT
AST__TUNL - Astro Tunnel is a low-res sprite
master demo game by Chris Skeliern. This game
gives you an idea of what you can do with Sprite
Master. Yau need the mouse and arrow keys to play
this fast-paced game. Cooridination and quickness
seems to be the key to winning.
DROMEPRE - This is a preview for a game very
similar to M.U.L.E.. a colonization/trading game that
was never rewritten for the ST. Many have cried out
for a version of this game, and Network 23 Software
has answered . .. almost. This is just a small part of
the game Dromedary, which is currently being writ¬
ten. You must hunt skivits. tiny creatures who live in
mountains on a barren planet. Sorry, no TOS 1.4!
MAHJONGG - Good example of this classic puz¬
zle game. This file contains solvable layouts of the
first five games, instructions, history, odds of winn¬
ing by non-strategic play (14 in 30,000 for the hard
one). The odds improve if you think about the
m(ves.
NOIDS_75 - This version of NOIDS supports ALL
ST family computers. Noids is a breakout type game
for the TT and MegaSTE. Shareware.
WAFtZONE - This is a fully playable one level
demo of Warzone by Core Design. It is a Com¬
mando-type game with excellent graphics and lots
of frantic action. Various weapons can be aquired
along with energy and power ups. Also implemented
is a two player simultaneous play option!
#6230: MONO GAMES
CATCHME - Catchme is a game where you use
the mouse to catch cards that say catchme before
another card appears. Speed increases as you suc¬
ceed with each board. Germam but easily unders¬
tandable. ST/Mega/Sfe. TT/ST mode.
FRUSTRAT - Frustration! is a word search game
for two people. Kind of like “BOGGLE* with a few
twists. Three levels of play make it great for kids!
Freeware.
MANIPULR - Manipulator is a German program in
German but you can do a great deal with it without
understanding a word of German. It seems to be
able to manipulate picture files in various ways. It
needs to be tested further in depth to learn the full
depth of its capabilities. ST. Mega. Sfe. TT/ST mode.
PAIGOW -> Here is the ST version of Pai (Bow poker
as played in Las Vsgas! Challenge the computer or
play a friend over the phone line using your modem,
freeware.
SCHIEBST - Remember those games that you
have to manipulate the squares to get them in cor¬
rect order with only one missing square? Well this
one is in German and if you look to the right of the
screen, it will tell you the order you must manipulate
the squares to. It is a twister. It is in German but can
be played without knowing German. Does not work
on TT Works on ST, STe.
WUNDER - Wunder is a German program that is
actually quite fun for young and old alike. It allovi^s
you to take its graphic and cut the people in half only
to move them to another area where they will fit.
This is achieved by a click of the mouse button. Ger¬
man. Works on Sf. STe, and TT/ST mode.
#6240: GAME DEMOS (C)
BOSTONBC - This program is a playable demo of
the game “Boston Bomb Club.’
REPEAT - Desktop Repeat is a game in an acces¬
sory! Follow the sequence of sound and color just
Page 78
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
like the SIMON game. Great for kids. You can play
right on the desktop or from within running programs
sf freeware.
CRACKED - limited demo version of arcade game
TIMEBAND - this demo version of Time Bandits
displays only a fraction of the many different advent
tures you will encounter on the commercial version.
CHESS - non-playable demo of 3D Chess
#628D: OMEGA 0.75!
This game is the latest all ASCII Role Playing Game
(RP6). Has a lot of improvements over the others
such as NetHack, Lam, Moria, etc etc. Has really
neat maps, multiple classes, jobs, a huge landscape
to explore, five gods, in depth magic/clerical type
^em! Can possibly be used as a BBS doorway if
you have the RAM. Works on a SS floppy with disk
swapping, but a HD is recommended. One meg or
more needed!
#6460: GAMES (C)
NOIDS - V1.0 of Noids (like Breakout) and
MkNoids. the game creator. Works best in ST Low.
but the game will also run in TT Med. Shareware.
DMLTN2 - Demolition Man V2.0. features three
levels of difficulty, as well as an x-ray button that
gives you a quick look at everything on the board. If
you can beat the Agony level, you're definitely a
demolition expert!
3_SHOOTS - Low resolution required, any ST/
Sle. Three joystick-controlled games include a
spaceship battle (G/VLACTIC). a rescue mission with a
military theme (RIVER), and a Duck Hunt clone
(HUNTING). Great for kids.
SORRY - Electronic version of board game.
#6470: GAMES (C)
Several color arcade games construction using GFA
Basic and GP-EDIT. The games are fully playable
and illustrate the power inhereint in the GP-EDIT
package.
BOBBLE - similar to COLLAPSE, falling blocks,
but not at such a frantic pace.
MSPAC - the familiar Ms. Pac-Man game.
MULTI - MultiGame (This is actually five games in
one. all are great fun: WORM. FIRECOP. MEGAPEDE.
BREAKOUT, and SETRYS)
STSQUARE - ST Squares, based on the Hollyw
wood Squares game show. A two-player game for
both adults and young adults.
#6560: GAMES
21 - This is a blackjack game for one player against
the dealer. The rules are RENO Casino style. Ibtally
mouse driven.
CAMELS - From the author of Llamatron, Jeff
Minter, here’s another whacko shoot-em up, a conv
version of an old 8-bit game. The enclosed text file
explains the different versions of the game.
AMMOTRAK - A very good high-speed graphic
game where you drive a rocket sled type vehicle.
Shoot at targets then drive thru them to gain speed
and fuel This plays excellent. (No TT.)
SEEKER - Gold Seeker, going beyond Lode Runne
er. this game has moveable trap doors, exploding
bombs, diagonal slides, moving sidewalks, control
table force fields, and an elevator. Contains 32
screens from simple to fairly difficult.
#6560: GAMES (C)
TRIPLES - A game of matching three-of-a-
kinds and solving rebus type puzzles, from 1 to 3
players. 1 MEG req. Concentration Rebus puzzle type
game.
ROBOTREP - Robot Repairs Demo, enter Robot
in minaturized probe andcollect deadly virus crystals.
#6750: GAMES (C)
BLOX - a variation of the original letris. In Blox, the
blocks are hexadecimals coming from all kinds of diff
ferent directions.
KATRIX - In this letris clone variation, the blocks
are all falling down, but there are a variety of colorful
options.
OTRPLACE - The Other Place game is entirely diff
ferent. Check out the docs in the OTRPLACE folder.
#6900: Star Ttek - The Klingon War
The Klingon War simulates a battle between the USS
Enterprise and a Klingon irwasion force. This game
requires an ST with at least 1 meg of RAM, color
monitor, and a double-sided disk drive.
#6910: GAMES (C)
FLIPPED - from the cover disk of Atari ST User
(Mar 92), here is a fun colored tiles game with 100
levels.
POKDICE - Poker Dice is an excellent game where
you play poker the roll of a die.
R0ULET17 - Roulette is the standard casino
game.
C0M_YAT2 - Computer Yahtzee, GFA compiled,
can be played with four players.
#6970: GAMES (C)
EUCHRE - pits you and computer partner against
two computer opponents.
5KIND - 5-of-a-Kind allows one or two players
to compete in a yahtzee type game.
MUTCATER - Invasion of the Mutant Caterpillars
arcade game demonstrates the new STDS 3D prog
gramming language.
BANG - GO BANG! figure out where the exploding
mines are hidden on a grid, (this game also runs in
mono.)
COLORQV2 - Color Quest, colorful "SIM
MON'memory game clone; play against the comput
ter or a friend.
ASTEROID - Clone Of the popular 8-bit classic
space arcade game.
A TCTKis A iffliffMmiicLnrourn
, Icwtl:
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[ * JlTlI 1 I ; 1
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Tetris from CN #438.
#703D: Eliemouse and More (C)
ECCB_6 - Here is ver 6 of the The Eliemouse
Complimentary Coloring Book for young children.
This version fixes some bugs in the program, and
adds the feature of children’s ANIMATION. Color the
picture and then animate the action by clicking on
the animation box.
E__PRS - This freeware game is based on the old
game Riper, Rock, Scissors, but with a new ingredie
ent added. Eliemouse. The game is for young child
dren and encourages use of the keyboard. Addictive
game of chance played with animated Eliemouse.
PLAYSPEL - Once a commercial program, B.Ware
of the UK has noiv released Play Spell as shareware.
For a small fee, users can acquire full documentation
and additional data disks. This is a joystick-controil
led platform arcade. Children maneuver a little man
to collect letters to form basic words. Joystick in Port
1 (joystick port). List of words cannot be changed.
#7090: GAME DEMOS (C)
P0PULX)U2 - Here is a DEMO of Populous 2 for
you to check out. One of the best in God-playing
games. TT Compatible in ST LOW.
CONQUER - Here is a demo of Conquorer, a tank
simulator originally from Rainbow Arts will be re-rel
leased RSN. lest your abilities at lank simulations.
Awesome 3D Gravies.
PENGUIN - From the cover disk of the April 1992
ST Format: Penguin! They’re small, look like they’re
wearing tuxes and they need to get through this
maze. So it's up to you, pardner. to round up these
suckers. Remember, it’s all in the mouse action! TT
Compatible.
#7100: RPG GAMES (C)
QUEST - Loosely based on Robert Asprins “Myth"
series. Become Sim or other characters and rescue
l^nda from Istvan! Lots of fun!
PACiSLND - Pacific Islands is a state of the art
tank simulator, lb get it going double click on
TY2.T0S inside the folder and prepare for battle.
ROBNHOOD - This folder contains Barry Kolbe’s
Robin Hood, a shareware, action/RPG similar to Omn
nitrend’s Paladin. People who pay the shareware
contribution will receive a scenario builder along with
the non-demo version of the program.
#711: GAMES (C)
HURRY__V1 - Hurry! Place 36 shapes into their
proper slots before the bomb goes boom. Sounds
eaV? NOT... Sfe compatible. Said to be "one of the
most frustrating and addictive games ever published
in Slart..."
MARBLEVI - Marbleous. VI. 0. Tired of dull vers
slons of Master Mind? Try this one out. Find the sec
cret code before it’s too late.
COPSNROB - Cops and Robbers, written by
Kevin and Larry Scott and compiled in GFA Basic. In
this game you and your opponent are both trying to
get the upper hand. As the robber you must find and
rob five banks in the city. As the cop, you must patrol
your city looking for the robber.
SNOFITE - In this action-arcade, two-player
game. You and your opponent must battle it out in a
terrifying snowball fight.
September 1992
Current Notes
Page 79
List of Advertisers
A & D Software (800-800-2563)
46
ABCO (800-562-4037)
29
Clear Thinking (313-971-8671)
61
Codehead (213-386-5735)
47.
Computer Games Plus (800-443-8189)
25
CN Library (Games) (703-450-4761)
74
CN Library (Sept. Disks)
73
CN Library (Cartridges)
34
CN Library (SR Disks)
55
D & P (800-535-4290)
ife
Debonair Software
65
Electronic Clinic (301-656-7983)
61
Fair Dinkum (505-662-7236)
35
FAME Atarifest (514-272-6631)
39
Fouch Software (814-465-1294)
49
Gadgets by Small (303-791-6098)
53
L&Y (703-643-1729)
5
Mac Systems (405-477-3777)
21
MacDonald Assoc (503-476-0071)
28
Mid-Cities Computers (310-867-0626)
63
Purple Mountain Computers (206-747-1519) obc
Rising Star (800-252-2787)
ibc
Run PC (800-326-2344)
12
ST Connection (303-423-6805)
60
Step Ahead Software (212-627-5830)
57
Templicity (800- 624-2355)
60
Toad Computers (301-544-6943)
40
WAACE Atarifest (703-629-6734)
1
Qassificd Ads
520 ST, color, 30 Mb HD, 3 disk drives, 41
programs, 2 scanners, 2.5 Mb RAM, tweety board,
video and sound digitizer $1,400. Call John (918)
744-8639.
Earn S1,000 with your Atari! Guaranteed
Program. Send $1.00 (refundable) and LG SASE to
Digital! nk, Rt. 4, Box 4665, Marshvield, MO 65706.
For Sale: Blank DSDD 3.5” disks, $9.99 + 2. S/H
for 25 disks. 50-1- shareware fonts for use with
Pagestream 2.x, (Some fonts are demos and/or Type
1) $19.99 + $2 S/H. Shareware & PD disks, as low
as $2.50 per disk. Call or write for FREE catalog.
Payment by check or money order only, allow time
for checks to clear. Make checks payable to “The
Punhouse Shareware.” Send orders to: The
Punhouse Shareware, RO. Box 153, Berkeley, CA
94701, (510) 525-9359.
FOR SAI>E: SuperCharger 2/1 Meg, $299. Spectre
GCR w/ROMS, $275. 520 ST w/4 Meg RAM,
$300. GTS-IOOX external DS floppy, $35. ICD
Breadbox Hard Drive w/3.5” floppy, $300. Atari
SM124 Monochrome monitor, $75. Atari Mouse,
$10. Beetle Mouse, $25. Omniswitch, $45.
Individually or all for $1,100. Call Howard
Wellman, 624 66th Ave. E., Tacoma, WA 98424.
(206) 922-5177, leave message.
CN Classified Ads. Send your classified ad into CN
Classified, 122 N. Johnson Rd, Sterling, VA 20164.
Classified ads are priced at 3 cents per character.
r
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Page 80
Current Notes
Vol. 12, No. 7
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26
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Fast Copy Pro.
42
Silhouette
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Flash 2.0.
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32
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Ult. Virus Killer.
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New Games Out the Wazoo!
Addams Family.
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Falcon.
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Lotus Turbo Chal. 2..
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Shadowlands.
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Alcatraz.
31
Fire & Ice.
39
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Shuttle.
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Armour-Geddon.
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Flight Of The Intruder
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Magic Pockets.
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Sim City/Populous.
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Breach 2.
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Fools Errand.
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Mega Lo Mania.
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Space Ace 2.
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Chaos Strikes Back.
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Gauntlet 3.
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Metal Mutants.
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Space Crusade.
36
Cruise For Corpse...
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Grand Prix.
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Microprose Golf.
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Space Quest 3.
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Curse Azure Bonds.,
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Hard Drivin' 2.
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Mig-29M Super.
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Special Forces.
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Deliverance.
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Heimdall.
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Obitus.
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Steve McQueen.
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Deuteros ..
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Hero Quest.
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Pacific Islands.
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Stratego.
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Diplomacy.
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Ishar.
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Populous 2.
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Strike Fleet.
39
Discovery.
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John Barnes Football
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Powermonger.
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Switchblade 2..
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Disciples of Steel.
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Knights of the Sky.
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Predator 2.
...37
The Simpsons.
38
Dragons Lair 3.
39
Knightmare.
42
Psyborg.
...35
Their Finest Hour.
...45
Drakkhen.
...39
Leander.
.35
Push Over.
...41
Turtles 2.
...34
Dungeon Master.
...25
Legend of Faerghail ..
42
Quest and Glory.
...43
Ultima 6.
...43
Elvira 2 .
...34
Leisure Suit Larry 3
39
Railroad Tycoon.
...49
Utopia.
...44
Epic .
.. 44
Lemmings Complete.
...34
Realms.
...47
Volfled.
34
F-15 Strike Eagle2..
...45
Life and Death.
.37
Robocop 3.
...37
Vroom.
...38
F-19 Stealth Fighter.,
...43
Loom.
.39
Shadow of Beast 2 ...
...38
Winter Supersport 92
.36
WE REPAIR ST's!
Wc Sell Used ST!
STE COMPUTERS
STE 1MB RAM.$389
STE 2MB RAM.$479
STE 4MB RAM.$569
MONITORS
SC1435 w/Mega.$249
SC1224 w/Mega.$159
SM147 w/Mega.$159
HARD DRIVES
STAR 52 MEG.$469
STAR 105 MEG.$569
STAR 44 MEG Cart.$599
Tir FLOPPY DRIVES 7ir
Moonlight (DS/DD).$99
A Complete Double Sided, Double
Density External Floppy Drive for
Only $99! Now You Can Treat
Your Data to a Moonliglit Drive!
Mail Orders To: P.O. Box 20038 k Dayton, OH 45420
WRITE FOR FREE CATALOG. If ordering by mail, cal alieacl to gel totals. No extra charge for aedil card orders APO &
FPO Ohio resklerils add 6.5% sales tax - Returns subiert to 20% restockkiq fee - Prices and availability subject to change without
notice. Wc accept VISA. MasteK?ard and Discover. Say Hi to Ginger and Peggy and tell Ihem their doing a greal Job! Doug...
ORDERING HOURS: Mon-Frl, 12PM - 8PM EST A ORDER STATUS; Mon-FrI, 6PM-8PM EST.
WHAT can you DO with Gemu/atot?
I^ow ST users can buy freedom in a box! Gemulstor
runs Atari ST software on any 386/486 DOS compatible
computer with VGA monitor and PC mouse. Don't throw
away your ST software, keep it; you don't need to spend
100's of doiiars buying dupiicate DOS versions. In fact,
when you buy Gemulator and a DOS compatible computer
you can use specialized DOS software and keep buying /
new low-priced ST software. Tell your friends how great ^
ST software is and tell them to buy Gemulator. That'll
keep ST developers in business and give you the power
to make a difference in the Atari ST community (rather
than watch and debate as it dwindles).
Run Calamus, PageStream, WordPerfect
and all other major ST software
Use all 3 ST screen resolutions!
I no need to buy an ^ctra monitor
Up to 4 versions of TOS^p to 2.06) at once
great for developers teMng K^tware compatlbJJity
DOS & ST HattlOrfVe accesij\^\^
share PC's disk drives, harddri&iiianalM|||ers
Print from^ny ^plication
even grtfhlp^rodi«in8 like Ca|[anvi^i|^eStream!
STE's^QlP colqf palette
Re^ all/lTdl^
*l|wuding twistes^^a T091.0
data betM^n ST i
asy t^nstail
^ screwdriver's heeded, ttgt
WVndows coiepati|>le i
\ runs from Dod or Windows!
GEMulator
file Qptions Windoi
File Vicri Options
138359 bytes used i
Word Win‘v*/'cKt(
K flUTO ^
K FILLS
K FONTS
K PD
X PICS
X QUICKS]
DESKTOI
HONSTEf
OINDEX:
0ST3CU!
QST3CU!
QST.OFI
OST.ON
OUICKSl
QUICKSl
QUICKTl
QUIEH3 '~m
X HOTTOOLS
X SHRRMORE
DESKTOP INF
HOTWIRE HOT
HOTWIRE in
RERDHE Q
6EH, Sraphic Enviroiwent Hanager
PC software
Copyright 6 1985,86,87;88;83
Rtari Corporation
Digital Research, Inc.
Oil Rights Reserved
ortable ST
run ST software oi
Microsoft Publisher-TORON'
ST Desktop running under Gemulator in Windows compatible.
Gemu/atof retails for $399. Mention this ad and get FREE
TOS 2.06 ROMs with Atari's NewDesktop ($139 value) and
FREE Shipping! This offer expires at midnight on
September 30.1992. Call/FAX 206.747.1519 (Visa and
MasterCard accepted) to order or send in this coupon.
Fiction? Fictn|n
dWKz/afor is mado by ^e
^OmOjeMpert who crewed the
XmrnvmWi 8-bit emqiajkir.
W^havew rimm that ^ery
JBM\compBUpl4compi^r user
^11DB runtun^ softere.
VHth wery Qeiw/aforbought
ST wvelopeiBxMi^have an
inenaaed user oan and
Increased revenum, they'll
create more software, more
demand, and theGT market
will be massivel make us
happy, make ST dol^opers
happy, but most oftimjiinake
yourself happy; call pid order
Gemu/afor today!
Send me:
[ ] _ Gemulatoi{s) & free TOS ROMs at $399 each
[ ] _Gemu/afor demonstration video(s) at $10 each
[ ] _Brochure(s) detailing Gemu/afor features
Make checks and money orders payable to PMC.
[ ] Check #_ [ ] Money Order
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Name
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Computers, Inc.
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Signature
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